The Rostra was a large platform built in the city of Rome that stood during the republican and imperial periods. Speakers would stand on the rostra and face the north side of the comitium towards the senate house and deliver orations to those assembled in between. It is often referred to as a suggestus or tribunal,the first form of which dates back to the Roman Kingdom, the Volcanal.
It derives its name from the six rostra (plural of rostrum, a warship's ram) which were captured during the victory at Antium in 338 BC and mounted to its side. Originally, the term meant a single structure located within the Comitium space near the Forum and usually associated with the Senate curia. It began to be referred to as the Rostra Vetera ("Elder Rostra") in the imperial age to distinguish it from other later platforms designed for similar purposes which took the name "Rostra" along with its builder's name or the person it honored.
Magistrates, politicians, advocates and other orators spoke to the assembled people of Rome from this highly honored, and elevated spot. Consecrated by the Augurs as a templum, the original Rostra was built as early as the 6th century B.C. This Rostra was replaced and enlarged a number of times but remained in the same site for centuries. - Wikipedia (so take it for what it is worth)
While I am not speaking to the masses (although I am going to Rome in July), I got tired of the character limits placed on me by Twitter and Facebook, so I have decided to piss off half my friends while agreeing with the other half here.
I promise this will not just be political, I may make other observations as well as tell funny stories (with the names changed to protect the innocent, or just so you don't know who I am ragging on). I hope you will read it and contribute, while engaging in an EDUCATED debate.
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