Basilica Julia

The Basilica Julia was named after Julius Caesar, who dedicated the first version of this basilica in 46 BCE—two years prior to his death. It was then completed under Augustus; however, it burned down soon afterward and took 20 years to rebuild. Thus, in 12 AD, it was dedicated again to Augustus’ deceased heirs Gaius and Lucius Caesar but, unsurprisingly, it later had to be rebuilt again under Diocletian after a fire broke out in 283 AD. Then, in either 377 or 416 AD, it was restored by Gabinus Vettius Probianus, where he added statues by Polyclitus, Praxiteles, and Timarchus in the interior of the basilica. In the 1st century AD, it functioned as the seat of the Court of the Hundred (centumviri), which was a special civil court composed of 180 judges that dealt with inheritance matters. It also housed civil law courts, as well as tabernae for government offices and banking. What is interesting about this basilica is the presence of game boards on the front steps and paving that were made by citizens in the Forum courts.

Sources:

Claridge, Amanda. 2010. Rome: An Oxford Archaeological Guide. 2nd ed., revised and expanded. Oxford: Oxford University Press., pp. 92-93.