‘What do the buildings in the Roman forum tell us about how the forum was used during the Republic?’

The Roman forum was both a political and religious centre. Various temples and shrines improved the appearance of the forum and served the dual purpose of being used for both religious and political purposes. The temple of Saturn is one such example. Built by the consuls in the year 497BC and dedicated at the beginning of the Republic, the cult of the god Saturn, god of corn was very old. The temple served as the Republican Roman treasury from the earliest times, meaning it was also referred to as the 'Aerarium'. As Saturn was also known as the founder of the Latin people, this, combined with the temple’s central location, signified political unity, for the Latins were absorbed into the Roman sphere of politics and religion and were thus under their control.