The Forum's central clearing opened up in front of the Curia, and you can still see a few original cobbles here and there. Built in 179 BC, the Emilia Basilica stood to one side; today all that remains is little more than its foundation. But be careful not to confuse the structure: in ancient times a "basilica" wasn't a sacred building, but a seat of economic and political activity, and especially judicial activity, presided over by the "basileus", which in Greek means "sovereign".
