Paul Zanker Sheds New Light on the Roman Forum

Today, the majestic ruins of central Roman stand as a symbol of ancient imperial might.

Most of the major early emperors carried out massive public building, many times leveling and recycling materials from earlier structures. Today, archaeologists working on uncovering secrets of these grand imperial building programs, are engaged in one of the most complex urban excavations of modern times.

Paul Zanker, the first director of the German Archaeological Institute in Rome, provides an informative glimpse into the history and contemporary issues facing excavators in central Rome in his web essay Satisfying Ancient Rome's Growing Need for Space.