Post by Gandalf on Oct 31, 2021 14:22:54 GMT -5
Began construction by the order of Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix during the Consulship of Lepidus and Antonius. It is an ambitious project that will take some time to complete, not least in part because of the endless legal difficulties that come with purchasing enough property to make space for the new construction. It is located in the north-eastern section of the Roman forum, which has long been cramped with an excess of public buildings, some of which have fallen into decay due to the disenfranchisement of the old Patrician houses.
The completed forum will be a large central square surrounded by Porticoes, completed by a central equestrian statue of Sulla Felix on horseback in battle regalia, sporting both the spoils of honour won against the Gallic King Divicus and the cloak of Megas Alexandros, looted from distant Asia. This central fitting will be accompanied by three other statues; Publius Rufinus, Sulla’s sole ancestor of Consular rank, who twice sat in the curule chair during the Samnite Wars. Then, Jugurtha of Numidia, who by the schemes of Sulla was captured and defeated, and of course a towering statue of Mithridates, King of Kings, looking suitably imposing and regal. This last feature was looted from Mithridates himself, taken from the royal halls of his old capital Amaseia.
A truly magnificent temple to Venus Felix will be located at the northernmost end, dedicated to Sulla's victories in the east. Styled in the Corinthian manner with eight large marble columns, the interior of the temple will have a central statue of Venus and her son Cupid. Playing on his own connection to the goddess as his chief patron and indulging in a typically Roman flirtation with divinity, a statue of Sulla himself in triumphal regalia shall also be housed within. Some treasures from the east will certainly be displayed here, with the looted statues and artworks from Crete and Asia finding a natural home as decorations for the Goddess and to reflect on Sulla's own past triumphs. To the immediate west of the temple shall be the Basilica Cornelia for use as a court room and meeting place. On the far opposite side of the Forum shall sit the Curia Cornelia, constructed to allow another location for the Senate to meet, as traditionally they changed location by necessity.
The entire project will take many years and an exorbitant amount of money to complete. It is intended by Sulla to be the most enduring part of his legacy, cementing his place amidst the aristocracy and culminating his rise from impoverished and ignoble Patrician to one of the first men of the city.
Each main public building bears the traditional inscription: "Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix, son of Lucius Cornelius Sulla, built this."
FINANCIERS:
98 BCE
- Lucius Cornelius Sulla - 50,000 denarii.
97 BCE
- Lucius Cornelius Sulla - 60,000 denarii.
95 BCE
- Lucius Cornelius Sulla - 50,000 denarii
ORDER OF CONSTRUCTION - Main Site:
1. Locate and clear site - 50,000 denarii. (+1 dignitas)
2. Begin construction of the Forum - 50,000 denarii (+1 dignitas)
3. Construct Temple of Venus Felix - 50,000 denarii
4. Construct Curia Cornelia - 50,000 denarii
5. Construct Basilica Cornelia - 50,000 denarii
ANCILLARY PROJECTS:
1. Statue of Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix - 10,000 Denarii (+1 dignitas)
2. Statue of Jugurtha, King of Numidia - 10,000 Denarii
3. Statue of Mithridates, King of Kings - 10,000 Denarii
4. Statue of Publius Cornelius Rufinus, twice Consul during the Samnite Wars - 10,000 denarii
----
Orange means in progress.
Green means complete.
(Families or individuals may contribute funds to their own projects in the Forum, such as temples, statues, or edifices. These will of course count as the buildings of said benefactor, rather than those of the Cornelii Sullae.)
2. Begin construction of the Forum - 50,000 denarii (+1 dignitas)
3. Construct Temple of Venus Felix - 50,000 denarii
4. Construct Curia Cornelia - 50,000 denarii
5. Construct Basilica Cornelia - 50,000 denarii
ANCILLARY PROJECTS:
1. Statue of Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix - 10,000 Denarii (+1 dignitas)
2. Statue of Jugurtha, King of Numidia - 10,000 Denarii
3. Statue of Mithridates, King of Kings - 10,000 Denarii
4. Statue of Publius Cornelius Rufinus, twice Consul during the Samnite Wars - 10,000 denarii
----
Orange means in progress.
Green means complete.
(Families or individuals may contribute funds to their own projects in the Forum, such as temples, statues, or edifices. These will of course count as the buildings of said benefactor, rather than those of the Cornelii Sullae.)