Comitium
Sign in to saveThe Comitium () was the original open-air public meeting space of Ancient Rome, and had major religious and prophetic significance. The name comes from the Latin word for "assembly". The Comitium location at the northwest corner of the Roman Forum was later lost in the city's growth and development, but was rediscovered and excavated by archaeologists at the turn of the twentieth century. Some of Rome's earliest monuments, including the speaking platform known as the Rostra, the Columna Maenia, the Graecostasis, and the Tabula Valeria, were part of or associated with the Comitium.
Key facts
- Ancient site.name
- Comitium
- Ancient site.image
- The Comitium as recently excavated.jpg
- Ancient site.caption
- Archaeological drawing of the excavations of the Comitium in 1899. This is the current level exposed today.
- Ancient site.location
- Regione VIII Forum Romanum
- Ancient site.built
- 7-4th century BC
- Ancient site.builder
- Tullus Hostilius/Julius Caesar
- Ancient site.type
- Forum (Roman)
- Ancient site.map_dot_label
- Comitium
- Ancient site.map_label_position
- bottom
- Ancient site.map_type
- Italy Rome Antiquity
- Ancient site.map_overlay
- Roma Plan.jpg
- Ancient site.map_caption
- Shown within Augustan Rome
- Ancient site.map_size
- 270
- Ancient site.image_size
- 270
- Ancient site.mapframe frame width
- 270
- Ancient site.mapframe
- yes
- Ancient site.mapframe caption
- Click on the map for a fullscreen view
- Ancient site.mapframe zoom
- 12
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Image
- Curia Hostilia, Comitium, Rostra and Lapis Niger layout.jpg
Show 1 more fact
- Commons category
- Comitium
Sources (2)
via Wikidata · CC0
~17 min read
Article
13 sectionsContents
- Archaic history
- Under the Roman Republic
- Structures within the Comitium
- Under Julius Caesar
- Archaeology
- The Comitium in Rome
- The Comitia of other urban centers
- Commentary on the Comitium
- See also
- References
- Bibliography
- Other authors referenced
- External links
The Comitium () was the original open-air public meeting space of Ancient Rome, and had major religious and prophetic significance. The name comes from the Latin word for "assembly". The Comitium location at the northwest corner of the Roman Forum was later lost in the city's growth and development, but was rediscovered and excavated by archaeologists at the turn of the twentieth century. Some of Rome's earliest monuments, including the speaking platform known as the Rostra, the Columna Maenia, the Graecostasis, and the Tabula Valeria, were part of or associated with the Comitium.
The Comitium was the location for much of the political and judicial activity of Rome. It was the meeting place of the Curiate Assembly, the earliest Popular assembly of organised voting divisions of the Republic. Later, during the Roman Republic, the Tribal Assembly and Plebeian Assembly met there. The Comitium was in front of the meeting house of the Roman Senate – the still-existing Curia Julia and its predecessor, the Curia Hostilia. The Curia Julia is associated with the Comitium by both Livy and Cicero.