Curia Julia

Curia Julia dates back to the 7th century BCE and served as the council house for the Roman Senate during its prime. However, what makes this building especially interesting is that the structure has remained almost completely intact thanks to multiple restoration efforts and usages throughout time. Its name lends itself to the person who commissioned it—Julius Caesar, who commissioned this building in 44 BCE, but it was not finished until 29 BCE, where it was then dedicated to Victory. Therefore, many of the decorations placed in the building were to honor Caesar and his accomplishments. For example, the golden shield was to commemorate his valor, and the bronze statues of Victory standing on a globe holding a crown (right) and palm leaf (left) were to reinforce the image of him as a man of great honor that has led the Romans to victory and prosperity. 

Unfortunately, in the 4th century, a fire broke out, so it had to be restored under Emperor Diocletian. After this, however, it remained relatively untouched until the 7th century, except for a few restorations when needed. What happened in the 7th century? After being abandoned after the fall of the empire in 476 CE, Pope Honorius I transformed the Curia Julia into the church of St. Adriano del Foro between 625-638 CE, which is actually the reason why it is so well preserved. However, in the 1930s, Alfonso Bartoli had transformed this building back to what it once was in ancient Rome, which is what we see today!

Sources: 

1. Bogen, Katharine, "The Curia Julia: Its History, Materials, Use, and Preservation through the Centuries" (2023). Student Research Submissions. 516. https://scholar.umw.edu/student_research/516