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The Forum of Nerva was the fourth and smallest of the imperial fora in Rome. Its construction began under Emperor Domitian before 85 AD, but it was not completed until after his assassination. His successor, Nerva, officially opened and dedicated the site in 97 AD. The forum replaced the Argiletum, a street that had long served as a market area for booksellers and cobblers. The new forum continued to serve as both a thoroughfare and a monumental entrance to the larger Roman Fora.

The layout of the forum was dictated by the existing space between pre-existing structures, resulting in a long and narrow plan measuring approximately 131 by 45 meters. The outer walls were made from blocks of lava stone peperino, covered with marble slabs, and decorated with projecting paired columns. The frieze in the entablature depicted the myth of Arachne and other reliefs represented the personifications of Roman provinces.

At the western end, a temple dedicated to Minerva dominated the site. This temple remained relatively intact until 1606, when Pope Paul V had it demolished to provide materials for the Acqua Paola fountain and the Borghese chapel. On the opposing side, the forum featured a monumental entrance called the Porticus Absidata, which featured an exedra porticata in the shape of a horseshoe. The underground Cloaca Maxima ran the entire length of the forum.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons