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Macellum: the first of the three macella known to us in Rome, situated just north of the forum. We are told that this market was burned in 210 B.C. (Liv. XXVII. 11) and rebuilt, but in 179 B.C. M. Fulvius Nobilior seems to have erected a new structure on the north-east side of the basilica Aemilia (which was built by himself and his colleague in the censorship), which absorbed the forum piscarium, the forum cuppedinis, and other special markets that occupied this site (Varro, LL V.146‑47; Fest. 238; Liv. XL.51). It probably consisted of a central building, which in Varro's time was a tholos in shape, surrounded with shops (Liv. loc. cit.; Varro ap. Non. 448; Altm. 73, 74). The name, like the Greek μάκελλον (Varro, LL, V.146), is thought to be Semitic in origin (Walde, s.v., but was variously explained by the Romans (Varro, loc. cit.; Fest. 125; Donat. ad Ter. Eun. 256). The entrance to the market-house was called fauces macelli (Cic. Verr. III.145; pro Quinct. 25), and a short street, the Corneta (Varro, LL V.152), led from it to the Sacra via. This market is not mentioned after the beginning of the empire, and its business was probably transferred to the other macella. In any case it must have been removed to make room for the later imperial fora (Jord. I.1.432‑436).
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Page updated: 22 Aug 12