Forum of Nerva Italy

Legendary

An imperial forum completed under Emperor Nerva around AD 97.

Photo by Adam Lusch

The Forum of Nerva was one of the last imperial forums built in ancient Rome. It was constructed during the reign of Emperor Nerva, who ruled from AD 96 to AD 98. Though his time as emperor was short, he wanted to leave his mark on the city by adding to the collection of grand public spaces called the imperial forums.

Before Nerva's forum, the area had already been planned for a new forum by previous emperors, but it was Emperor Nerva who finished the project. The forum was built between two existing ones—the Forum of Augustus and the Temple of Peace—and connected the other imperial forums.

Because space was limited, the Forum of Nerva was smaller than the others and had an unusual narrow, long shape. Despite its size, it was still an important place in the city.

The Forum of Nerva was also known as the "Forum Transitorium" because it acted as a passageway or shortcut through the busy center of Rome. People used it to move between different parts of the city.

One of the key features of the forum was a temple dedicated to Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and war.

Unfortunately, over the centuries, much of the forum was damaged or lost due to natural disasters and the passage of time. Today, only a few columns and parts of the walls remain, but these ruins still give visitors a glimpse of what the forum once looked like.

Source ChatGPT