One of the finest creations of Roman architecture, the oval precinct dates from the late 1C or early 2C and is believed to have been a forum. Its rather unorthodox layout serves a dual purpose in accommodating the path of the cardo and providing access to the town’s main place of worship, the temple of Zeus. This unusual feature seems influenced by eastern town planning techniques. The concentric arrangement of paving stones emphasises the elliptical form of the precinct, lined by Ionic columns.