The Roman Forum southeast from the Capitol, Rome, Italy

Underwood & Underwood · (c) 1904

"Away at the left are the great arches of Constantine's basilica; to the right of the basilica is the Colosseum with its tier upon tier of colonnades lifted high in the air. Farther to the right is the arch of Titus, standing on the elevated ground between us and the Colosseum, and still farther in the same direction is the wooed summit of Palatine Hill. The church with the tall, graceful bell-tower, between us and the Colosseum, is that of S. Francesca Romana. In the earliest time the Via Sacra is supposed to have run from a point on this side of the Colosseum near its centre, directly toward us, over the site of that church, down the slope toward the eastern end of the Forum. Those eight granite columns directly before us are part of the Temple of Saturn. The first temple was built here in 497 B.C.; for centuries it was the public Treasury. Nearest to this (south) side of the Forum is the spacious pavement of the Basilica Julia, founded by Julius Caesar, B.C. 46. The building was used as a place for holding the law courts and as an exchange. It was from the room of this basilica that crazy Caligula used to throw gold and silver coins into the Forum. Beyond, on a raised superstructure, may be seen three beautiful Corinthian columns belonging to the Temple of Castor and Pollux, dedicated 482 B.C. to the twin gods, in remembrance of their aid in defeating the Latins at the battle of Lake Regillus." (See "Rome Through the Stereoscope." with special, keyed maps, locating the standpoints and identifying the landmarks.) From Notes of Travel, No. 7, copyright 1904, by Underwood & Underwood.