ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the forward a convergence of these different approaches to propose a viable interpretative model, looking at the Roman city and at one of its key elements, the Forum. To critically review these two different strands, the Roman Forum was chosen as a case study since it represents an exceptional case to explore these issues. As a matter of fact, since the 1980s our knowledge of the topography of ancient Rome has been enormously enriched, both in quality and quantity: new data allows us to posit new interpretations of the sequence of monuments in a diachronic perspective. The relationship between territory and identity: in this sense, the manipulation of space is a key process in self-definition. Bodies and embodiments: after being a topic in humanities and social sciences, it entered ancient studies, including archaeology, both by focusing on the cultural meaning of the human body and by focusing on embodiment, that is, approaching ancient times as sensorial experiences.
