Niger Lapis
Shrine in the Comitium commemorating burial spot of an early Roman notable
Reconstructed state: Building as first dedicated on site
Known historical events
| 725 BC to 700 BC |
The tomb of Romulus, Faustulus, or Hostus Hostilius is recorded by various Republican writers as standing near the Rostra in the Comitium. Sources: Romulus--Varro in Ps. Acr. and Porph. ad Horat. epod. 16.13; Faustulus--Dion. Hal. 1.87.2; Hostus Hostilius--Dion. Hal. 3.1.2. |
| 570 BC to 550 BC |
Next to the Rostra at the S end of the Comitium is built a shrine with a U-shaped altar, a base with column (presumably supporting a statue), and an inscribed cippus. Sources: F. Coarelli, LTUR, vol. 5, p. 210. |
| 80 BC |
The shrine is suppressed when the Forum is repaved; over the site a pavement in black stone is laid to mark the spot (hence the term "Niger Lapis"). Sources: F. Coarelli, LTUR, vol. 5 (1999) 211. |
| 1899 AD to 1900 AD |
G. Boni discovers the altar, column base, and cippus. He identifies the site as the legendary tomb of Romulus. Sources: Archeologia in posa: Foro Romano (1993) 95. |
subfeature of Forum (Romanum or Magnum)
