DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61617#0162
CHAPTER XVII
THE MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS
At the south end of the Forum were three buildings similar
in plan and closely connected. In front they presented a com-
mon facade, the narrow spaces between them being entered
by low doors. The building at the right (Fig. 50, 3) was at the
corner of the Forum, while the space separating the other two
lay on a line dividing the Forum into two equal parts; east of
the last building is the Strada delle Scuole.
The three buildings were erected after the earthquake of
63, on the site of older buildings of the same character. In
the walls of that furthest east (1), con-
siderable remains of the earlier walls are
embodied; in that near the corner the
original pavement is preserved, and in
the middle building there are traces of the
original pavement. Previous to this re-
building the inner series of columns be-
longing to the colonnade about the Forum
had in part been removed and a barrier set
up, by which the space in front of the mid-
dle building and that at the left could be
Fig. 50. — Plan of the Munic-
ipal Buildings.
1. Office of the duumvirs.
2. Hall of the city council.
3. Office of the aediles.
shut off (indicated
on the plan by broken lines). At the time of the eruption only
the building at the left (1) was entirely finished. The others
still lacked their decoration on both inner and outer walls.
These three spacious halls must have served the purposes of
the city administration. The two at the right and the left are
alike in having at the end opposite the entrance an apse large
enough to accommodate one or more magistrates with their
attendants ; they were the official quarters of the aediles and
the duumvirs, while the middle hall was the council chamber,
curia, where the decurions met.
121
THE MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS
At the south end of the Forum were three buildings similar
in plan and closely connected. In front they presented a com-
mon facade, the narrow spaces between them being entered
by low doors. The building at the right (Fig. 50, 3) was at the
corner of the Forum, while the space separating the other two
lay on a line dividing the Forum into two equal parts; east of
the last building is the Strada delle Scuole.
The three buildings were erected after the earthquake of
63, on the site of older buildings of the same character. In
the walls of that furthest east (1), con-
siderable remains of the earlier walls are
embodied; in that near the corner the
original pavement is preserved, and in
the middle building there are traces of the
original pavement. Previous to this re-
building the inner series of columns be-
longing to the colonnade about the Forum
had in part been removed and a barrier set
up, by which the space in front of the mid-
dle building and that at the left could be
Fig. 50. — Plan of the Munic-
ipal Buildings.
1. Office of the duumvirs.
2. Hall of the city council.
3. Office of the aediles.
shut off (indicated
on the plan by broken lines). At the time of the eruption only
the building at the left (1) was entirely finished. The others
still lacked their decoration on both inner and outer walls.
These three spacious halls must have served the purposes of
the city administration. The two at the right and the left are
alike in having at the end opposite the entrance an apse large
enough to accommodate one or more magistrates with their
attendants ; they were the official quarters of the aediles and
the duumvirs, while the middle hall was the council chamber,
curia, where the decurions met.
121