The structures of the Forum, situated at the foot of the Capitoline Hill, were erected during a period of more than five hundred years, dating from the legendary days of Rome to the time of its greatest power. Their total ruin dates from the 11th century. This small space has been called the "Cradle of Law and Order." Away at the left are the great arches of Constantine's basilica; to the right of the basilica is the gigantic Colosseum that accommodates 85,000 spectators. Here the brutal gladitorial combats were held. Farther to the right is the arch of Titus, and still farther in the same direction is the wooded summit of the Palatine Hill. It is supposed that in the earliest times the Via Sacre ran from a point on this side of the Colosseum di-

rectly toward us to 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 us on this side of the Forum is that spacious pavement of the Basilica Julia founded by Julius Caesar, B.C. 45. The building was used as a place for holding the law courts and as an exchange. It was from the roof of this basilica that the mad Emperor Caligula used to throw gold and silver coins into the Forum. Beyond, on a raised superstructure, may be seen three beautiful Corinthian columns. These belong to the Temple of Castor and Pollux, dedicated 482 B.C. to the twin gods, in remembrance of the aid they were though to have given in defeating the Latins at the battle of Lake Regillus.