Porticus Octavia

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Not to be confused with the Porticus Octaviae.

The Porticus Octavia (the Octavian Portico) was a portico in ancient Rome, built by Gnaeus Octavius in 168 BC to commemorate a naval victory over Perseus of Macedonia.[1] It stood between the theatre of Pompey and the circus Flaminius. It was also called the porticus Corinthia, due to its bronze Corinthian capitals)[2], perhaps the very earliest use of this order in Rome.[3]

Augustus restored the building in 33 BC[4], and placed within it the standards which he had taken from the Dalmatians.[5] It was called multo amoenissima, or the most splendid of all the porticoes,[6] but has left no traces [7]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Fest. 178; Vell. II.1
  2. ^ Plin. NH XXXIV.13 ("invenio et a Cn. Octavio, qui de Perseo rege navalem triumphum egit, factam porticum duplicem ad circum Flaminium, quae Corinthia sit appellata a capitulis aereis columnarum" - "I find it stated that Cneius Octavius, who obtained a naval triumph over King Perseus, erected the double portico to the Flaminian Circus, which was called the "Corinthian" from the bronze capitals of the pillars.")
  3. ^ For a possible identification with remains in the Via S. Nicola ai Cesarini, and representation in the Marble Plan (frg. 140), see BC 1918, 151‑155).
  4. ^ Mon. Anc. iv.3
  5. ^ App. Illyr. 28: Cass. Dio XLIX.43, where there is confusion between this and the porticus Octaviae
  6. ^ Vell. loc. cit.
  7. ^ HJ 488‑489; AR 1909, 77

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