The Tabularium

The masonry wall that faces onto the forum was built in 78BC and originally covered in stucco. The Tabularium was built between the two summits of the Capitoline Hill, the Arx and the Citadel. The front of the building was an arcade of 10 arches of which, due to the weight of the Palazzo de Senatores above it, only 3 have been unbricked.

The planning of the Tabularium's construction was started, and building work continued, during the reign of Sulla. After his death Catulus, who was the Consul of 78 BC, finished and dedicated it. Its primary purpose was to hold the archives of the Roman state; these were known as Tabulae after the stone tablets were sometimes used.

Here are some views of the forum that were taken from inside the Tabularium:

 

Here are some shots of the front of the Tabularium as it faces out onto the Forum
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tabside.jpg 		fronttabtosslucaetmartina
fronttabtosslucaetmartina.jpg		 tabside2
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In the 17th century the Palazzo de Senatores was designed and built by Michelangelo above the Tabularium, and the top level of Corinthian columns was destroyed in the process. This photograph was taken inside the Tabularium and is one of my favourites, if only because taking it stopped the annoying security person you can see here from following me about (he liked having his picture taken less than I liked being trailed).

 
Inside the Tabularium there are a lot of nice little goodies.

(You can get there through the Capitoline Museums)

This is a large urn which was used to store food
Here we have at the top left, a view of the Temple of Veiovis, a rarely known, but ancient Roman god, later associated with Aesculapius. The temple pre-dates the Tabularium. Under that, to the left, is a statue of Veiovis. Above is a picture of the floor of the original Republican Tabularium.

Here are two views looking down the forum towards the Tabularium and the Palazzo de Senatores.

Immediately above this writing is a picture of the Ossa of Agrippina.

This is the sarcophagus of Cornelia Scipionis Africana, Daughter of Scipio Africanus, and the Mother of the Gracchii.