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The Saepta Julia was a building in Ancient Rome where citizens would gather to cast votes. The building was conceived by Julius Caesar and dedicated by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa in 26 BCE.

The structure

The conception of the Saepta Julia began during the rein of Julius Caesar (d.44 BCE). Located in the Campus Marius, the Saepta Julia was built of marble and surrounded a huge rectangular space (c.300 95 m)^[1] next to the Pantheon. The building was planned by Julius Caesar who wanted it to be built of marble and have a mile long portico according to a letter written by Cicero to his friend Atticus about the building project (Cic. Att 4.16.14). The quadriportico (four-sided portico, like the one used for the enclosure of the Saepta Julia) was an architectural feature made popular by Caesar^[2].

Building functions

The building was originally built as a place for the comitia tributa to gather to cast votes ^[3]. It replaced an older structure, called the Ovile, which served the same function^[4]. The building did not always retain its original function. It was used for gladiatorial fights by Augustus ^[5]and later as a market place ^[6].

Construction history

The planning of the Saepta Julia began under Caesar. After he was murdered, and in the backlash of public support for the former ruler, men continued to work on projects that Caesar had set into motion^[7]. Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, who used to support Caesar and subsequently aligned with his succesor Octavian, took on the continuation of the Saepta Julia building project. The building was finally completed and dedicated by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa in 26 BCE. Agrippa also decorated the building with marble tablets and Greek paintings.

Remnants of the structure

The Saepta Julia can be seen on the Forma Urbis Romae, or Marble Plan, a map of the city of Rome as it existed in the early third century. Built under the emperor Septimius Severus, this marble map was fixed to the side of the Forum Pacis and is today, the only surviving plan of a Roman city^[8]. Part of the original wall of the Saepta Julia can still be seen in Rome right next to the Pantheon.

References

^ Diane Favro, The Urban Image of Augustan Rome, New Yok: Cambridge University, 1996
^ Simon Hornblower and Antony Spawforth (eds.), The Oxford Classical Dictionary (1996) — ISBN 019866172X ; available online for a fee
^ Simon Hornblower and Antony Spawforth (eds.), The Oxford Classical Dictionary (1996) — ISBN 019866172X ; available online for a fee
^ Samuel Ball Platner, A Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome, London: Oxford University Press, 1929.
^ Diane Favro, The Urban Image of Augustan Rome, New Yok: Cambridge University, 1996
^ Simon Hornblower and Antony Spawforth (eds.), The Oxford Classical Dictionary (1996) — ISBN 019866172X ; available online for a fee
^ Diane Favro, The Urban Image of Augustan Rome, New Yok: Cambridge University, 1996
^ Herbert Bloch, “A New Edition of the Marble Plan of Ancient Rome,” The Journal of Roman Studies Vol. 51, Parts 1 and 2 (1961), pp. 143-152

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[1] Diane Favro, The Urban Image of Augustan Rome, New Yok: Cambridge University, 1996

[2] Simon Hornblower and Antony Spawforth (eds.), The Oxford Classical Dictionary (1996) — ISBN 019866172X ; available online for a fee

[3] Simon Hornblower and Antony Spawforth (eds.), The Oxford Classical Dictionary (1996) — ISBN 019866172X ; available online for a fee

[4] Samuel Ball Platner, A Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome, London: Oxford University Press, 1929.

[5] Diane Favro, The Urban Image of Augustan Rome, New Yok: Cambridge University, 1996

[6] Simon Hornblower and Antony Spawforth (eds.), The Oxford Classical Dictionary (1996) — ISBN 019866172X ; available online for a fee

[7] Diane Favro, The Urban Image of Augustan Rome, New Yok: Cambridge University, 1996

[8] Herbert Bloch, “A New Edition of the Marble Plan of Ancient Rome,” The Journal of Roman Studies Vol. 51, Parts 1 and 2 (1961), pp. 143-152

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 == Construction history ==
-The planning of the Saepta Julia began under Caesar.  After the murder of Caesar, and in the backlash of public support for the former ruler, men continued to work on projects that Caesar had set into motion<ref> Diane Favro, The Urban Image of Augustan Rome, New Yok: Cambridge University, 1996</ref>.  [[Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (triumvir)]], the least powerful member of the second triumvirate that included [[Octavian]] and [[Mark Antony]], took on the continuation of the Saepta Julia building project.  The building was finally completed and dedicated by [[Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa]] in 26 BCE.  Agrippa also decorated the building with marble tablets and Greek paintings.
+The planning of the Saepta Julia began under Caesar.  After he was murdered, and in the backlash of public support for the former ruler, men continued to work on projects that Caesar had set into motion<ref> Diane Favro, The Urban Image of Augustan Rome, New Yok: Cambridge University, 1996</ref>.  [[Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (triumvir)|Marcus Aemilius Lepidus]], who used to support Caesar and subsequently aligned with his succesor [[Octavian]], took on the continuation of the Saepta Julia building project.  The building was finally completed and dedicated by [[Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa]] in 26 BCE.  Agrippa also decorated the building with marble tablets and Greek paintings.
 == Remnants of the structure ==