Inextricably linked with the life of Rome and the development of his urbanity, the Forum marked a significant milestone in the history of the city, bringing together in one - the one place all aspects of socio-political and economic life. Forum, which extends over an area of 500 meters between the Palatine Hill, the Capitol and Eskvilin, at the very beginning of its existence, was a huge swamp, drained by the construction of a network of channels (one of whom was the famous Cloaca Maximus), which gathered all the waters flowing into the Tiber. It seems that the name of the Forum, who was born as a place for shopping malls, even where there were hills on various individual settlements, derived from the word "foras", that is, a place outside of a residential center. After the unification of the city into a coherent whole, the Forum was an ideal center (and almost the geographical pivot of) Rome. Since then, trading activity has gradually moved to other places, but all along the Forum, the densely built-up temple dedicated to the cult of the major deities and deified famous Romans, basil, sometimes litigation and commercial transactions, stretched Sacra, Via Sacra, along which in the days festivities moved solemn processions and a triumph victorious troops. Forum Komitsiumom his interest, where people gathered for the election of judges, curia, in which the Senate met, as well as arches, columns and trophies in memory of outstanding events. Among the trophies deserve special attention the famous rostrum enemy ships, defeated in battle, adorned the podium dei Rostra. From there he spoke, drawing a crowd: hence Cicero against Catiline orate, and Anthony touched by the Romans of his eulogy on the death of Caesar. But for the moments of brilliance followed by a gradual decline, and the first Forum had to give place to the new forums era of the empire, after which he, together with all the Roman civilization, shaken by the invasions of barbarians, plunged in gloom long Ages.