Macellum Liviae

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Macellum Liviae (market of Livia), shopping complex built by Augustus in the name of his wife Livia on the Esquiline Hill in Rome.

[edit] Literary evidence

Probably to be identified with τὸ τεμένισμα τὸ Λίουιον ὠνομασμένον, which Tiberius dedicated at the beginning of 7 BC (Cass. Dio LV.8). A restoration between 364 and 378 by Valentinian, Valens and Gratian is recorded (CIL VI.1178), and either this macellum or the Macellum Magnum (q.v.) is marked on a fragment (4) of the Severan Marble Plan 1 (Atti del Congresso storico 1907, i.121).

In the Chronicle of Benedict of Soracte ad ann. 921 (MGS iii.715) the aecclesia Sancti Eusebii iuxta macellum parvum (church of Saint Eusebius next to the small market) is mentioned (HCh 251). In the Liber Pontificalis the church of Santa Maria Maggiore was described as iuxta macellum Libiae (next to Libia's market, possibly substituting B for V - LP xxxvii.8; xlvi.3; HCh 342), that of S. Vito as in macello (Arm. 811; HCh 499), and in the Ordo Benedicti (p141 = Jord. II.665) is written: intrans sub arcum (i.e. the arch of Gallienus) ubi dicitur macellum Livianum (internally under the arch where it is called the Livian market).

[edit] Archaeology

Corresponding with these literary indications, ruins have been found just outside the porta Esquilina, north of the road, which may well have been those of this macellum. They consist of an open court, 80 by 25 metres, built of brick and opus reticulatum, and parallel with the line of the Servian wall. This was surrounded with porticus and shops for various kinds of wares. The southern part of this area seems to have been encroached upon by private dwellings as early as the third century (BC 1874, 36, 212‑219; 1914, 363; Mon. L. I.531; HJ 344; LS III.167).

[edit] Sources

• Platner