The Lacus Curtius in the Roman Forum

The sites and wonders of the Roman Forum astounded me, and there was so much that I wanted to see.  One of the main sites I was on the lookout for was the Lacus Curtius.  I took a class on Rome this past spring semester, and our teacher (Prof. Melissa Haynes) focused on the Lacus Curtius, a structure in the middle of the Roman Forum.  The Lacus Curtius has an interesting mythology behind the structure, for it honors a hole in the ground and there are three explanations as to why it is there.  The first and most common story is that a gaping hole appeared in the middle of the Forum and could not be closed until an offering was made.  After many failed attempts to appease the hole, a young patrician by the name of Marcus Curtius mounted his horse while armed and jumped straight into the hole.  It then closed up and let out a dove as a symbol of peace, and a monument was placed there to commemorate the brave young man.

The second story occurred during the battle between Romulus and the Sabines.  Romulus was pushed back to the Forum area (which at that time was a swamp) during the fighting, and his chances of winning were slipping.  One of the Sabine leaders, Mettius Curtius, fell into a hole while on his horse in the swamp, allowing Romulus to continue fighting and ultimately win the battle.

The third story comes from two consuls in 102 BCE.  They said that lightning struck the ground at that spot in 445 BCE.  Since it was seen as a sign from the gods, a consul named C. Curtius marked and fenced off the area.

According to the marble relief that is next to the Lacus Curtius, the Romans believed it was either the first or second story.  Considering the popularity of the first story, it seems likely that it could be the young patrician, but unfortunately we will never know.

            Although I knew the Lacus Curtius was just a hole in the ground, I found it to be interesting.  I thought there would be a deeper hole, but it appears that it is just a circle of stones.  The plaque with the horse and rider was neat, because it honored the safety of Rome.  No matter which of the main two stories someone believed, someone plunging into the ground on a horse saved Rome from destruction.  Through this monument I could see a reminder of the sacrifice that Romans had to make in order to keep Rome thriving.  In this way, the Lacus Curtius reinforced my understanding of the state coming first and the importance of remembering past trials that Rome survived through.

~Bridget McMahon

~Bridget McMahon