Regio VIII was the central region of Rome, both geographically and politically. In extent, the region was bordered by the
Servian Wall to its northeast and the
Palatine Hill to the southeast, while the western outcrop of the
Quirinal Hill and the
Via Sacra formed its eastern boundaries. It therefore included the
Capitoline Hill, the valley between the Palatine and the Capitoline hills (where the
Roman Forum is nestled), and the area between
Velian Hill and the Palatine just before the point where the
Arch of Titus straddles the Via Sacra. A measurement taken at the end of the 4th century recorded that the perimeter of the region was 13,067
Roman feet (approximately 3.86 km). The region was dominated by the massive sanctuary of Rome that sat on the crown of the Capitoline, the
Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus. Known as the Golden Capitol, the temple's roof was covered with gilt metal tiles, the bases and capitals of its columns were gilt, as were the gates, and it was decorated with gilt statues and monuments. Descending by the
Clivus Capitolinus, on this stretch of road were the Temples of
Concord,
Saturn, and
Vespasian and Titus. On the slope of the Capitoline, below the Temple of Jupiter stood the
Tabularium, while close by the Temple of Concord stood the temple dedicated to the
Genius Populi Romani which itself stood adjacent to the most ancient of the three
Rostra that were erected at various points across the Forum. This part of the Forum also contained the
Arch of Tiberius (no longer in existence) and the still standing
Arch of Septimius Severus. Next to, or on top of this arch, stood the bronze equestrian statue of
Constantine I, which was probably removed from Rome during the visit by the Byzantine Emperor
Constans II in 663. It was also near this arch that
Augustus set up the
Milliarium Aureum (or Golden Milestone), and the
Umbilicus urbis Romae stood. Adjacent to these stood the
Curia Julia (or Senate House), built by
Julius Caesar and subsequently restored by
Domitian. Beside the
Curia Julia along the
Argiletum stood the
Temple of Janus Geminus. Further along stood the
Basilica Argentaria, and although beside it stood the
Basilica Aemilia, the
Aemilia formed part of the
fourth region. Across the Forum on its southern side facing the
Aemilia was the
Basilica Julia, rebuilt by
Diocletian after a fire destroyed the earlier structure. This part of the Forum contained the
Vicus Jugarius, the
Graecostasis, the
Temple of Castor and Pollux and the
Temple of Vesta. The southern portion of the region then terminated at the
Arch of Augustus. Moving north from the Arch of Septimius Severus, the region contained the collective
Imperial Fora, a series of monumental public squares. They were four in number, the Forums of
Caesar,
Augustus,
Nerva and
Trajan. The Forum of Caesar contained the
Temple of Venus Genetrix, with an equestrian statue of
Julius Caesar standing in front of the temple. The Forum of Augustus contained the
Temple of Mars Ultor, while the Forum of Nerva contained the
Temple of Minerva. The Forum of Trajan, which apart from the still standing
Column of Trajan which dominated the open space, also contained an equestrian statue of Trajan, while the buildings contained an enormous library. Around the open space stood the statues of the great philosophers, poets and rhetoricians, which continued to be added to. In the fifth century, statues of
Claudian and
Sidonius Apollinaris were included in the Forum of Trajan. This region also included the
Porticus margaritaria, as well as the sixth cohort of the
Vigiles. At the turn of the 5th century, the Regio contained 34
aediculae (shrines), 130
domūs (patrician houses), 18
horrea (warehouses), 85
balneae (bath houses) and 120
loci (fountains). ==Subdivisions==