Who built the Regia?
It’s believed the Regia Forum was built by Numa Pompilius, the second king of Rome. Pompilius was responsible for establishing Rome’s religion.
When was it built?
Its construction was between 715-673 B.C. It is one of the oldest buildings in the Forum. It is located at the beginning of the Via Sacra.
What was its purpose?
‘Regia’ means ‘royal palace’. It was used as the headquarters of the Pontifex Maximus (chief priest of Rome). The annals were kept here, recording important events and the names of magistrates; ‘the events of war, calamities and prodigies’.
Describe its main features?
The rebuilt structure (which seems to have been transformed into a private residential building sometime during the seventh or eighth centuries) had an irregularly formed enclosed courtyard that was paved in tuff with a wooden portico. The interior was divided into three rooms with entrance from the courtyard into the middle room.
It contained two chapels. One chape was dedicated to Mars, the god of war. The other chapel was dedicated the goddess of the harvest, Ops.
The Chapel of Mars held sacred objects such as the sacred shields (ancilia) and the sacred spear of Mars.
Primary Source
‘Numa first lived on the Quirinal Hill, and then in the palace next to the Temple of Vesta, which is still called Regia’ Solinus Collectanea 1.21
Task #5
1. What does the word ‘annals’ mean? What was the Annales Maximi and the annalistic tradition?
2. What important events took place in this building?
3. Who was the famous Pontifex Maximus who held office in the Regia in the late republic? How did he use his position as chief priest at the time?
4. How was the original building destroyed?
It’s believed the Regia Forum was built by Numa Pompilius, the second king of Rome. Pompilius was responsible for establishing Rome’s religion.
When was it built?
Its construction was between 715-673 B.C. It is one of the oldest buildings in the Forum. It is located at the beginning of the Via Sacra.
What was its purpose?
‘Regia’ means ‘royal palace’. It was used as the headquarters of the Pontifex Maximus (chief priest of Rome). The annals were kept here, recording important events and the names of magistrates; ‘the events of war, calamities and prodigies’.
Describe its main features?
The rebuilt structure (which seems to have been transformed into a private residential building sometime during the seventh or eighth centuries) had an irregularly formed enclosed courtyard that was paved in tuff with a wooden portico. The interior was divided into three rooms with entrance from the courtyard into the middle room.
It contained two chapels. One chape was dedicated to Mars, the god of war. The other chapel was dedicated the goddess of the harvest, Ops.
The Chapel of Mars held sacred objects such as the sacred shields (ancilia) and the sacred spear of Mars.
Primary Source
‘Numa first lived on the Quirinal Hill, and then in the palace next to the Temple of Vesta, which is still called Regia’ Solinus Collectanea 1.21
Task #5
1. What does the word ‘annals’ mean? What was the Annales Maximi and the annalistic tradition?
2. What important events took place in this building?
3. Who was the famous Pontifex Maximus who held office in the Regia in the late republic? How did he use his position as chief priest at the time?
4. How was the original building destroyed?