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The founding of the Roman Republic was traditionally assigned to the year 509 B.C. The Roman forum lies at the foot of the Capitoline Hills, and was used for many centuries. In early times large parts were used as burial grounds for the "hut dwellers" that lived on the Palatine and other hills nearby. The Roman Forum became a symbol of democracy of the Republic. This is where civic activities took place. The Curia was …

…like beaks "rostra" it was called by this name. Over many centuries the Roman Forum continues to be the collection for statues and inscriptions dedicated to the emperors and important civic leaders, as wells as the site chosen for commemorative arches and temples to the gods and deified emperors. The original Republican forum continued to serve as one of the central nerves of the Roman civic and business life until the end of the empire.