User:Mark Miller/Curia Hostilia

Curia Hostilia
The original Senate House of Rome was the Curia Hostilia. It is believed to have been constructed during the reign of Tullus Hostilius, in the 7th century BC. Although it was likely rebuilt. The building was destroyed in 80 BC under Lucius Cornelius Sulla to enlarge the curia and accomadate an increase in Senators. It was replaced with the Curia Cornelia.

Description
Relatively little is known about it. One feature of the Curia that is mentioned in almost all sources is the “Tabula Valeria,” a painting on the exterior of the Curia’s western wall. It depicted the victory of Manius Valerius Maximus Corvinus Messalla over Hiero and the Carthaginians in 263 BC. Pliny says that the painting was the first such picture in Rome.

Another fact most sources agree on is that the Curia Hostilia was located on the north side of the Comitium. It is believed that the circular set of stairs of the Comitium which also doubled as seating for citizens to listen to speakers at the Rostra, lead up to the Curia's entrance. With regard to the Curia’s location, Stambaugh writes, “[T]he Curia Hostilia was built on rising ground so as to dominate the whole space of the Forum Romanum”. Given its prominent place in the Forum, it seems that the Curia Hostilia was a symbol of the strength of the Roman Republic.