The remains of the forum of Sabratha that visitors see today date to the 4th century AD when the forum was reconstructed after damage from the earthquake of 365AD.
Roman forums were usually situated in the centre of town as they were the legal and administrative centre of the city’s government. The forum of Sabratha was situated in the Punic mercantile quarter close to the sea. This made it perfectly sited for commercial dealings. It also retains many of the usual civic buildings found in Roman cities.
The Forum
Post holes have been found in the open square of the forum that indicate a temporary open air market was set up regularly in the forum to allow for the buying and selling of goods. But the forum also had permanent shops and commercial offices for transacting business with Roman ports such as Ostia. These were situated around its periphery, along with many grand temples and civic buildings.
Originally theses buildings opened straight onto the central square. In the Antonine period, a roofed portico consisting of grey Egyptian granite colonnades was added to the periphery of the forum, providing a much needed source of shade. The forum was also opened up to traffic. At the same time, many of the civic roman buildings were developed, such as the Curia and the law courts.
Basilica of Apuleius
Built in 50AD, the basilica of Apuleius or the forum basilica was a large rectangular building on the edge of the forum. It had no exterior windows, receiving light and ventilation from an inner courtyard through apertures high its central nave.
The basilica was originally the city’s law court. It was here in 157AD that the famous Roman writer Apuleius was tried for witchcraft following the accusations of relatives of his wealthy wife who wished to dispose of him to obtain her fortune. Apuleius made his own defence, probably in the southern exedra opposite the basilica’s forum entrance, which was demolished in the second century AD to make room for one of the forums many temples. Apuleius was acquitted and an account of the trial is contained in his Apologia.
The Basilica’s legal function ended in the 5th century when it became a Christian church in 440AD
The Roman Curia
The curia was situated in the north of the forum. It was the senate house of sabratha, the place where the city magistrates and senators met to discuss the city’s government.
Built from columns of cipollino marble with a grey granite portico, it had low marble seats for the senators that remain today. Its white marble paving is a fourth century addition, dating to the period of the forum’s restorations. Although its doors do not remain, remains of door jambs and hinge holes can be seen at the buildings south west entrance.
It is thought that the Curia was originally joined with the Basilica of Apuleius before it became a church.
Sources
Sabratha: A Guide for Visitors by Philip Ward. Darf Publishers: London
 |
