XVI.—The Rostra and the Graecostasis, with the Umbilicus Romae and the Milliarium Aureum
The recent removal of the road which ran across the Forum Romanum by the Arch of Severus has at last brought to light the whole of the existing remains of the Rostra, and finally settled the oft-disputed question as to the size and form of this historically most interesting structure. The original Rostra stood on a different site; they were on the north side of the Forum Romanum, and were constructed the Comitium, which was a paved area in front of the Curia, probably surrounded by a rail or low screen. There is very strong evidence to show that the church of St. Adriano is the Curia as it was finally rebuilt by Diocletian; the brick-facing of the front of this building, with its enriched mouldings of fine hard stucco (opus albarium), is clearly work of the time of Diocletian; even in minute details it corresponds with certain parts of the Thermae of that emperor. The Comitium then must have been in the space between St. Adriano and the Arch of Severus—now occupied by a modern road, which buries the original level to the depth of about twenty feet. It appears to have been a paved area, not raised above the Forum but a few steps below it.