CURIA JULIA
A house of the Roman Senate with remarkable bas-reliefs, a precious historical testimony of the second century.
On the right, looking at the Capitol, a simple brick building that seems almost new calls out to the visitor. It is the Curia, or the Julian Curia because it was wanted by Julius Caesar. It has existed since the Roman Republic (509 BC): it was the seat of the Roman Senate in the third century, the real center of power under the Republic and its symbolic center under the Empire. Originally covered with marble and stucco, it has been destroyed many times. Its current appearance dates from the beginning of the 4th century, when the emperor Diocletian ordered a final restoration. Transformed into a church in the seventh century, the building had a portal closed by a beautiful bronze door that was transported in the seventeenth century to the church of St. John Lateran. The curia was restored to its current appearance in 1930. It consists of two series of steps, on which were placed the seats of the 300 senators. A sitting consul sat at the back. Take a look at the marble floor under your feet, it's worth it! The Curia preserves and exhibits a series of breathtaking bas-reliefs that once adorned the tribunes of the Rostra: the bas-reliefs or anaglyphs of Trajan dating from the early 2nd century. The emperor is represented in majesty, and a ritual sacrifice with animals is about to be performed. A work of art that stands out as a precious historical testimony of the 2nd century. Unfortunately, this bas-relief is not easily accessible and therefore cannot be admired on the same level.
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