An open public space in a town or city of the Roman empire. From the 6th century bc the Roman forum was a place for civic meetings and religious and military ceremonial. The Curia (Senate House) and comitia were situated there, together with markets, libraries, and courts. War trophies were put on display, the most famous being the ram-beaks (“rostra”) of Carthaginian galleys taken in the First Punic war, which decorated the public platform or “rostra” outside the Senate House. Other forums were built in Rome by early emperors including Augustus, Vespasian, and Trajan. The model was followed in virtually every town of the Roman empire.