Who built the Regia in ancient Rome?
Numa Pompilius, the second king of Rome, built the Regia as a royal palace according to ancient tradition. This structure sat along the Via Sacra at the edge of the Roman Forum.
Questions about Regia
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What was stored inside the West Room of the Regia?
The West Room housed the shrine of Mars where ancilia shields were stored alongside lances consecrated to Mars. Legend stated that if these lances started vibrating something terrible would happen and Cassius Dio reported they vibrated on the night of the 14th of March 44 BC.
When did the Regia burn down during the Republican period?
The Regia burned down and required restoration in 148 BC during the Republican period. It suffered another fire in 36 BC eight years after the death of Julius Caesar.
Where is the Regia located within the Roman Forum?
This structure sat along the Via Sacra at the edge of the Roman Forum and occupied a triangular patch of terrain between the Temple of Vesta and the Temple of Divus Julius.
Who excavated the site of the Regia in the 1930s and 1960s?
American archaeologist Frank Brown dug at the site in the 1930s and again in the 1960s. Architectural terracottas from the Brown excavations were published in 1995.