Herculaneum tour

There are three public buildings which dose the area south of the Forum. They are on a slightly higher level than the other buildings, are almost equal in size, and were almost certainly used by the city magistrates for administration. Owing to the importance of these buildings they were virtually rebuilt after the earthquake of 62 A.D., though stili keeping their originai form and size. Only the building to the east, next to Via delle Scuole, has its side and back walls in opera incerta, which was used before 62 A.D. The building of the Assembly opens onto the south-eastern side of the Forum. Originally it was separated from the Forum and from Via dell'Abbondanza by a row of columns and therefore had many entrances on two side. It is rightly supposed that the building is a Comitium where elections took place. The many entrances and exits, five to the north and five to the west, allowed the voters to enter in an orderly manner from the Forum and to leave by Via dell'Abbondanza. On the southern side there is a tribune with stairs leading up to it, where the magistrates in charge of the elections were to be found. The walls of the Comitium were originally covered in marble, and the floor was also composed of marble slabs.