Regia

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Regia grounds with remains of buildings from the east

In ancient Rome, the Regia was a building on the east side of the Roman Forum in the immediate vicinity of the Vesta Temple. It originally belonged to the property of the kings, then - around 509 BC. BC, when the monarchy was abolished - to the seat of the Rex sacrorum , who had taken over the cultic functions of the kings, and subsequently to the Pontifex Maximus . This made it the official seat of the college , the assembly of the pontifices . However, the priests did not live in this building, it would have been too small for that.

According to tradition, the Regia is said to have been built under Numa Pompilius , the legendary second king of Rome. The current remains come from a restoration in 36 BC. At that time the Regia was believed to be a five-sided house. It burned down several times, but was always rebuilt in the same way.

Inside was a sanctuary to Mars . The sanctuary was a kind of round altar in which twelve lances and shields were kept. In his honor, the priestly college of Salians (from Latin salire "to jump") led each year in March and October; So at the beginning and at the end of the war season a kind of war dance . There was also a sanctuary of the Ops Consivia (goddess of harvest, abundance and fertility) in the regia , which was apparently so sacred that only the Pontifex Maximus and the Vestal Virgins were allowed in. In her honor, a harvest festival was held at the Capitol each year on August 23 .

The city's annals, in which the most important events were recorded, were also stored here; but also prayers, general instructions and laws.

literature

  • Joachim Losehand: Houses for the rulers of Rome and Athens? Reflections on the function and significance of building F on the Athens Agora and the Regia on the Roman Forum, Dr. Kovac, Hamburg 2007. ISBN 3830033974

Web links

Coordinates: 41 ° 53 ′ 30.9 "  N , 12 ° 29 ′ 11.2"  E