Rostra
The Rostra is the name of the great speaker's platform in the Forum, from which speakers addressed crowds, and from this platform many of the great and famous speeches in Roman history were delivered. Initially, it was constructed as a flat-topped platform (suggestus) forming part of the large, round Comitium (an area in front of the Curia where speakers would address whoever was assembled). In form, the original Rostra may have been a simple raised platform made of wood, similar to the roman tribunal. The Rostra had a curved form, possibly along the outer south rim of an Amphitheatre. The structure was described by Christian Charles Josias Bunsen, based on his examination of two Roman coins depicting the Rostra, as "a circular building, raised on arches, with a stand or platform on the top bordered by a parapet; the access to it being by two flights of steps, one on each side. It fronted towards the Comitium, but later speakers often faced in the opposite direction to address larger audiences in the Forum. Typically, a speaker's platform is called a tribunal, but after Duilius won Rome's first major naval victory against Antium in 338 BCE, six bronze prows of enemy ships were attached to the front of the speaker's platform as trophies; the Latin for prows is rostra, and the name became used for the entire structure. In 260 BCE, C. Duilius Nepos defeated the Carthagians at Mylae, and replaced or supplemented the original prows with new ones from ships captured in that battle. Eventually, decorative prows that were not from actual ships were specially constructed for the platform itself. As part of his modifications of the Forum, Caesar had the Rostra built at its present location, this time in marble. The podium measured twenty-four meters wide and twelve meters deep (about 80x40 ft.). The Rostra had a height of three meters, so the orators on the podium stood high above the crowds.
Thanks to Shakespeare’s version, the most famous speech at the Rostra was given
Thanks to Shakespeare’s version, the most famous speech at the Rostra was given