Forum and basilica

The forum and basilica were a bit like a town hall, and were usually built in the middle of a town. The forum was a large area with a large open space in the middle where public meetings would be held. Shops and covered walkways would surround three sides of a basilica. The fourth side would be taken up by the basilica, which would have a large hall for public meetings, government offices and a prison.

Below is a plan of a typical forum and basilica.