This is my interpretation of the Forum of Augustus. It was initially commissioned in 42 BCE by Octavian, also known as Caesar Augustus, and completed in 2 BCE. This forum served two primary purposes: (1) to expand the Forum Romanum by adding additional law courts and market spaces, and (2) to memorialize Augustus' revenge at the Battle of Philippi (42 BCE) on the masterminds of Julius Caesar's assassination, Gaius Cassius and Brutus. Augustus was assisted by Mark Antony at Philippi as he also had a lust for vengeance, but their paths would eventually diverge as a power vacuum erupted following the battle and their return to Rome.

The Forum of Augustus could be split into two main parts: the Temple to Mars Ultor (variant for vengeance) and the porticoes + courtyard. The forum would have been immensely ornamented with statues and perhaps fauna during the spring and summer seasons. It is believed by historians that the Temple to Mars Ultor housed three main dedicatory statues, one each for Mars Ultor, Venus Genetrix, and Julius Caesar. Architecturally, the Forum of Augustus was not too different from the Forum Iulium commissioned by Julius Caesar himself as both had a central temple, side porticoes, and a central courtyard. However, the Forum of Augustus additionally included two non-roofed exhedrae -- one attached to the outer side of both porticoes. Famously, however, the back of this forum was walled off with peperino (volcanic tuff consisting of basalt and limestone) to separate the complex from the Roman poor district known as the Subura. The Subura was prone to highly contagious fires as the majority of the houses were made of wood, so the architects and Augustus wanted the forum complex to be protected from such hazards.

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This forum was certainly a lot of fun to build! I took a small break the past few weeks because of other commitments, but I'm glad to be back with my third installment to the Imperial Fora Build Series. The next post will most likely be the Temple of Peace -- the fourth installment -- but not until I finish the highly complex and detailed interior to the Temple of Jupiter Baalbek 5:1 build, which is the largest Roman temple currently published in Minecraft. After the Temple of Peace, there is only the Forum Transitorium (Forum of Nerva) left in the Imperial Fora Build Series. I'm super excited for these next few projects, especially since this post marks the +50% point of the build series.

As always, if you have any questions or issues with downloading the map, feel free to comment or message me on PMC. If you have any build suggestions or business inquiries, please reach out to me via Discord (Praetorian#7425) or PMC -- i check both platforms daily. Thank you, and enjoy!