{"id":9345,"date":"2023-11-30T06:10:12","date_gmt":"2023-11-30T05:10:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/?p=9345"},"modified":"2023-11-30T06:10:12","modified_gmt":"2023-11-30T05:10:12","slug":"where-was-treasury-building-in-ancient-rome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/where-was-treasury-building-in-ancient-rome\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Was Treasury Building In Ancient Rome"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Background information<\/h2>\n

The Treasury Building in Rome was one of the most important buildings in the ancient city and is considered one of the most impressive structures from the period. The building, located on the Forum Romanum, was used to store the public treasury and all of the city’s taxes. It is thought to have been built around the 6th century BC. The Treasury Building, also known as the Aerarium, was more than just a storage facility. Over time it came to represent much more than just a financial institution; it became a symbol of Rome’s successes and ever-growing power.<\/p>\n

The Function of the Aerarium<\/h2>\n

The Aerarium was a critical feature of the Roman state, designed to store the wealth of the Roman Republic and Empire. It was initially the sole repository of state money; during the late Republic it was transformed into more of a bank and served as the main source of financing by the Roman senate. The Aerarium also functioned as a sort of economic think-tank for the state as it authorized new taxes and fixed prices for goods and services. Tax collectors would deliver their receipts to the Aerarium, and then it was the responsibility of the Aerarium to calculate and dispense the proper funds.<\/p>\n

The Design and Layout of the Treasury Building<\/h2>\n

The Aerarium was filled with marble, statues and grand columns, standing thirty feet high at the peak of its glory. The Treasury was constructed around a large, open courtyard surrounded by three wings of offices, recording rooms, and storage chambers. The Aerarium was full of countless clerks and public officials, who were always buzzing around trying to keep up with the administration. Inside there were an array of tabulae memoriae, or tally stones, which were used to record and remember the taxes collected. The main entrance to the Aerarium was also filled with religious symbols and was consistently guarded by the Vestal Virgins.<\/p>\n

The History of the Treasury Building<\/h2>\n

In the beginning, the Aerarium was located on the western slope of the Capitoline hill, before eventually being moved to the Forum Romanum. It underwent a number of renovations during its time; first it was restored during the reign of Trajan, and then again during the period of the Severans. During the Imperial period, the interior of the Treasury was completely redone, adding new columns, windows, and mosaics.
\nThe Treasury was destroyed by fire multiple times over its history, but it was restored and redecorated each time. This is the reason the building appears to have so many different styles and artifacts from different periods in its design. After the sack of Rome in 410 AD, the Treasury was finally destroyed and was never rebuilt.<\/p>\n

The Importance of the Aerarium<\/h2>\n