The Roman Forum was not only an important place in the Republic, but it remained the center of Rome throughout most of the Empire as well. Another area whose existence was made possible by the Etruscan Cloaca Maxima, the Forum began as a marketplace for public affairs. The Temple of Vesta was built within the area as well as a place for the senate to meet. As the Roman Republic grew, the Senate expanded as well, resulting in the previously discussed Senate House. Even more temples were added to the Forum, including the Temple of Saturn and the Temple of Castor and Pollux. People continued to assemble in the Forum for meetings and to listen to speeches, and it was here that speeches like Marc Antony’s famous funeral oration for Julius Caesar occurred. This was also the site of Caesar’s cremation, and a temple was built in his honor by Augustus. Augustus added many other things to the Forum as the Roman Empire emerged, finishing Caesar’s changes to the Senate house and building another temple. Constantine contributed to the Forum as well with a large basilica. However, the Roman Empire was also the start of the decline of important political activity in the Forum, and as years passed the area was plundered for its stone and marble. Today, though many structures have suffered damage, it is an impressive site that contains artifacts from Rome’s major time periods.