The seemingly U-shaped building of the Augustus era was in fact a closed rectangle, with an inner courtyard and a colonnade along the inner sides. However, only the southern part was preserved, while the northern one disappeared. In its place were built houses, which were replaced many times. These prevent us from realizing that the Roman Forum was right next to Hadrian's Library, with which it formed an architectural ensemble, as the library was built parallel to the forum and of the same size. The commercial use has survived until recent years, as here was the Wheat Market of Ottoman times.