Foro di Augusto (Forum of Augustus), Rome

The Forum of Augustus is one of the Imperial forums located in Rome. It was commissioned and built by Augustus, the first Roman emperor (27 BC – AD 14), and features the prominent Temple of Mars Ultor. The forum and its temple were inaugurated in 2 BC, four decades after their initial vows were made.

During the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC, Octavian (later known as Augustus) vowed to construct a temple honoring Mars, the Roman God of War. With the victory in the battle, achieved with the assistance of Mark Antony and Lepidus, Octavian avenged the assassination of his adoptive father, Julius Caesar. The Forum of Augustus served the dual purpose of housing the temple dedicated to Mars and providing additional space for legal proceedings, as the Roman Forum was overcrowded.

The Temple of Mars Ultor played a significant role in military affairs. Generals would set off from the temple before battles, attending inaugural ceremonies. The Senate also convened at the temple to discuss matters related to war, while victorious generals dedicated spoils from their triumphs to Mars at the temple's altar. The Forum of Augustus also served as a storage space for arms and treasures recovered from battles.

The forum boasted a wide array of statues, with notable ones including full military attire statues of Augustus at the center and depictions of Mars and Venus within the temple. A total of 108 portrait statues adorned the forum, each featuring inscriptions detailing the achievements of the individuals depicted. These statues provided insights into Augustus's perception of his role in Roman history.

The forum's construction employed various materials sourced from different parts of the Roman Empire. Ashlar blocks of peperino tufa and Carrara marble were used, while colonnades were crafted from giallo antico from Numidia. The second level of colonnades featured africano and pavonazzetto marble. The enclosing walls, however, were constructed using locally sourced Roman stone.