The southeastern part of ancient Salona (Croatia), capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia, was the city’s most important center of political, religious, and cultural life. It was here that the most important public buildings were concentrated: the forum, the monumental theater, and temples dedicated to Roman gods.
The Forum of Salona was an elongated rectangle measuring approximately 45 x 70 meters. It was built on a natural terrace and took its final form during the reign of Emperor Augustus (27 BCE–14 CE). It was the city’s central square, surrounded by porticos and the most important administrative buildings.
The dominant feature of the forum was the Capitoline Hill – a temple complex dedicated to the Capitoline Triad: Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva. It consisted of three separate temples arranged on a shared podium. This architectural design emphasized the importance of the state cult in the lives of the inhabitants of Roman Salona.
On the northern side of the forum, archaeologists discovered the remains of the city’s baths dating back to the 1st century CE and the Curia building, where the local city council met.
In the second half of the 1st century CE, a theater measuring approximately 65 x 58 meters was built immediately adjacent to the forum. It could accommodate approximately 3,500 spectators, making it one of the largest such venues in the region. Theatrical performances, public ceremonies, and religious events were held here.
To the south of the theater stood a temple dedicated to Dionysus (Bacchus) and Liber – deities associated with wine, fertility, and theater. This structure, decorated with Corinthian columns, was an important addition to the theater complex.
In the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE, the forum was expanded, and during the reign of Emperor Diocletian (284–305 CE), who came from nearby Dalmatia, further modernization work was carried out. In the 4th century, with the spread of Christianity, the importance of the former forum gradually declined.
Today, the remains of the forum, theater, and temples are among Salona’s most valuable archaeological monuments, providing a better understanding of the functioning of one of the most important cities of the Roman Adriatic.
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- Remains of the forum in Salon
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- Ruins in the forum in Salona
