Lapis Niger

Also referred to as “Black Stone” in Latin, this site was discovered in a series of excavations by Giacomo Boni from 1899-1900, and was found to have been located between Curia Julia and the Arch of Septimius Severus in the Roman Forum. During its active lifetime, this sanctuary had an open-air, horseshoe shaped altar dating to around 350-300 BCE, columns dedicated for cult worship, and an inscribed stela with boustrophedon text—meaning alternate lines of writing and its letters were written in reverse. This stela is called the Cippo Del Foro Romano, and it was dated back to the middle of the Royal Period, so around 575-500 BCE. It was made of plaster and had a lex sacrata inscription that usually either detailed a law accompanied by an oath, or it threatened penalty for violators of a certain place. Though there is no direct translation available, given that it was written in Old Latin, the content that was able to be transcribed is as follows: 

“QUOI HON…SAKROS ESED…REGEI/KALATOREM…IOUXMENTA/KAPIA…IOUESTOD”

Dionysius of Halicarnassus, a Greek historian and teacher of rhetoric, helps us out by suggesting that this stela was perhaps an epitaph of Hostilius and his bravery against the Sabines. However, Pompeius Festus, an earlier Imperial period writer, writes, “the black stone in the Comitium marks an unlucky spot: according to some it was intended to serve as a grave of Romulus, but this intention was not carried out, and in the place of Romulus his foster-father Faustulus was buried” (Milligan). Though, it is interesting to note that this exact area was said to have been the place where Romulus was either killed or had been taken to heaven, which is why this monument has also been referred to as the ‘Tomb of Romulus’. 

It was inferred that this site also acted as a repository for objects that reminded the Romans of their monarchy past and was seen as a unified place of memory that had quite a special status in the late Republic—as it was associated with death, mournfulness, and fatefulness. This is because votive gifts were found, suggesting that it may have acted as a sanctuary and that the Romans intentionally buried this site. 

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Sources: 

  1. Milligan, Mark. “The Mysterious Lapis Niger Sanctuary beneath Ancient Rome.” HeritageDaily - Archaeology News, 30 Jan. 2022,  www.heritagedaily.com/2022/01/the-mysterious-lapis-niger-roman-sanctuary/142627. 
  2. “Cippo Del Foro (575-550 A.C.) | Museo Della Civiltà Romana.” Www.museociviltaromana.it, www.museociviltaromana.it/it/opera/cippo-del-foro-575-550-ac. Accessed 25 Mar. 2024. 
  3. Jasiński, Jakub. Lapis Niger «IMPERIUM ROMANUM. imperiumromanum.pl/en/roman-art-and-culture/roman-architecture/roman-buildings/lapis-niger/.
  4. “Dionysius of Halicarnassus | Roman Critic, Literary Scholar | Britannica.” Www.britannica.com, 27 Feb. 2024, www.google.com/url?q=www.britannica.com/biography/Dionysius-of-Halicarnassus&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1711719519818427&usg=AOvVaw1e6DZaF2QDJqq1ChnflbF0. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024. 
Lapis Niger