Page - 111 - in The Power of Urban Water - Studies in premodern urbanism

7 Aquatic Pasts& theWateryPresent:Water andMemory in the Foraof Rome 111 Fig. 4:Rome, Forum Romanum, Lacus Curtius reconstruc- tion, ca. AD320. statio aquarum, the water department of Rome.33 Not only does the space havemythological (e.g.with Iuturna, andCastor andPollux) andhistorical (e.g. theBattles of LakeRegillus and Pydna) associations, but the buildings surrounding the spring are utilized for the supervision of themaintenance of Rome’swater supply. Thus, there aremultivalent associations a passer- by couldmake inantiquitywhenexperiencing this complex. Northwest of the Lacus Iuturnae, in the open space of the forum, between the Basilicas Aemilia and Julia, is the Lacus Curtius. There are at least four distinct phases of the structure: (1) tuff period dated to 184BC;34 (2) travertine period dated to 78–74BC, with the repaving of the forumbyAureliusCotta; (3)Augustan (ca. 12BC); (4)Severan,with thenewrepavingof the forum of AD 203.35 Still visible today, it is an irregular polygonal monument surrounded by a marbleparapet,which is sunk into thepavementof the forum, the result of successive repavings of thearea (Fig.4).Excavationhasrevealedat least threedifferent layersofpavement,whichcan help to showthe longevityof thismonument in this space.36 In theenclosure is a circularplinth to support aputeal, presumably concealinganancientwater source, alongwith rectangular cut- tings on the other side of the enclosure for square altars. In fact, by the timeofAugustus, it is known that therewasnowater flowing to the Lacus Curtius.37 During the Imperial period, the monumentwasaplacewhereRomansannually tossedcoins for thegoodhealthof theemperor onhis birthday.38 There are at least twodifferent stories that the lacuswasbelieved tohave commemorated. The first version isabattlebetween theRomans, ledbyRomulus,and theSabines, commanded byMettius Curtius.39 In a skirmishnear the gate of the Palatine,Mettius fledRomulus andhis 33 There are various dedications of the curatores aquarum etMiniciae and a statue ofGenius stationis aquarum. For more on these dedications, see Kajava 1989, along with Rogers 2018b, 11–13 on the water administration of Rome. 34 Liv. 39, 44, 5. 35 LTUR III (1996) 166f. s.v. LacusCurtius (C. F.Giuliani). 36 Excavations revealed at least three layers of pavements, including, frombottom to top, cappellaccio, Monte- verde tuff, and travertineLTUR III (1996) 166f. s.v. LacusCurtius (C. F.Giuliani). 37 Ov. Fast. 6, 403–404. 38 Suet.Aug. 57, 1. 39 Liv. 1, 12, 9–10. 13, 5; Dion. Hal. Ant. Rom. 2, 42, 5–6; Plut. Quaest. Rom. 18, 4. See also: La Regina 1995 and Spencer 2007.