Forum of Arles

The forum of Arles is the first great urban realization towards 30-20 av. J-C of the Roman colony founded in 46 av. J. - C to thank Arelate for its support for César.

History and description

In accordance with the uses of Roman town planning, this forum takes seat with the intersection of the two major ways of the city: the Cardo (North-South) and the Decumanus (East-West).
The forum of Arles consists of a great paved place of 3.400 square meters, whose only two fragments were preserved. Initially the forum is framed by four gantries monumental joints by as many galleries with arcades. The originality of the forum of Arles lies in its foundations. It is indeed built on astonishing the Cryptoportique S, galleries of substruction intended to compensate for the declivity of the hill of Hauture, which constitute an attic with corn.

The forum is located beside what is called the civil Basilique which was the place of judgment as well as produce exchange. Today, one thinks that it is actually about another forum, that built by the Constantin emperor of the 4th century.

It is evoked by old authors such as Sidoine Apollinaire in 461 which us draws up a description of it, “encumbered columns and statues and political atmosphere reigning then in the city”.

Today, the current place of the forum does not coincide with the site of the ancient forum. The Roman forum extended more to the south, behind the vestiges of the two columns.

See too

Forum of Arles on the site of the inheritance arlésien

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