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The Mons Capitolinus Domus of M. Fabius Furius

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Curia Calabra

A place of assembly for the Roman people to hear religious announcements from the College of Pontiffs.

“By Juno! There it is!” The exclamation from the pontifex breaks the silence that had prevailed in the sacred enclosure for nearly two hours. In the starry sky above, the thin crescent of a new moon is faintly visible, the sign that signifies a new month has begun. Standing in the deep darkness of the templum at the western point of the Capitolium in which they make their observations of the moon’s phases, the pontiffs and their assistants are shadowy figures in the night. Just beyond the boundaries of the enclosure, the unlit portico of the Curia Calabra borders the area for public assemblies on religious matters. Over the roof of the portico, the southwest corner of the Temple of Iuppiter Optimus Maximus looms as a shadow blocking the light of the stars behind it. Back to the west, the twinkle of lights can be seen in the Campus and along the Tiber hundreds of feet below. Having confirmed their observation, the pontifices set in motion a series of actions needed to keep Rome functioning in accord with the gods. Light is called for, and assistants bring lamps and torches. Flickering flames faintly illuminate the sacred enclosure – just an open field at the end of the Capitolium ridge with a small thatched hut standing alone. A low stone wall separates the templum from the surrounding area. Around the hut, the pontiffs huddle together, calculating the dates of the Nones and the Ides of the month. Heralds of the Collegium Pontificum are instructed to summon the people for an announcement at daybreak. The rex sacrorum sends for a sacrificial victim to be offered to Juno. A new month has begun, and the news must be declared to the people of Rome.

Page and table backgrounds from designs at Eos Development.
Crescent Moon with Stars icon created from a denarius of the moneyer L. Lucretius Trio, c. 76 B.C.; original photo at WildWinds. New moon photo from Michael Myers.

The Articles of Curia Calabra:

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