Roman Forum

Found in the Musei Capitolini, the Temple of Jupiter, built by the Etruscans, shows the vast importance of Greek, Hellenized ideas in Rome. The Temple of Jupiter was built on the Capitoline Hill and overlooked the Roman Forum, which was at the heart of the Roman Republic. The land upon which the Roman Forum was built was drained and made viable by Etruscan engineers. It was in the Roman Forum that many great speeches and orations were given on the Rostra during the republican period from philosophers and leaders, such as Cicero and Marc Antony, whose words have been influential for thousands of years. The central location of the Rostra tells current-day visitors of the Forum the importance of freedom and opinion to the Romans during the period of the Republic.

Also in the Roman Forum is the large Vestal Virgins complex. The vast expanse of the complex shows the value of virtue and honor in this culture. This value is what prompted the birth of the Roman Republic when after Lucretia was raped and subsequently committed suicide, her husband and Brutus pledged to fight for her honor against the monarchy.