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Basilica Aemilia

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	Topics Basilica Aemilia Topic Home The Basilica Aemilia was a civil basilicaBasilica The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building , usually located at the centre of a Roman... in the Roman forumRoman Forum The Roman Forum was the central area around which ancient Rome developed, in which commerce, business, prostitution, cult an... , in RomeRome Rome is the capital of Italy and of its region, called Latium.... , ItalyItaly Summary Italy, officially the Italian Republic , is a Southern European country.... . Today only the plan and some rebuilt elements can be seen. The Basilica was 100 meters (328 ft) long and about 30 meters (98 ft) wide. Along the sides were two orders of 16 arches, and it was accessed through one of three entrances. History Pre-existing building The new basilica was built on a site where once 5th century BC) were the tabernae lanienae ("butcher shops") and later (4th century BC) the tabernae argentariae, which housed the city's bankers and after a fire were renamed tabernae novae ("new shops"). The square had two facing rows of shops. A first basilica had been built behind the tabernae argentariae between 210 BC and 195-191 BC, date in which it is mentioned by PlautusPlautus Summary Titus Maccius Plautus , born at Sarsina, in Roman Umbria , was a comedic playwright in the time of the Roman Republic.... . Archaeological studies have shown that this building comprised three naves paved with tuffTuff Overview Tuff is a type of rock consisting of consolidated volcanic ash ejected from vents during a volcanic eruption. ... from Monteverde, the back façade having a portico which opened to the Forum Piscatorium and the MacellumMacellum A macellum is an ancient Roman indoor market building that sold mostly provisions .... (the area later occupied by the Forum of Nerva). The Basilica Fulvia-Aemilia It was erected in 179 BC by censorCensor (ancient Rome) A Censor was a magistrate of high rank in the ancient Roman Republic.... Marcus Fulvius NobiliorMarcus Fulvius Nobilior Marcus Fulvius Nobilior, Roman general, a member of one of the most important families of the plebeian Fulvian gens.... with the name of Basilica FulviaBasilica Fulvia The Basilica Fulvia was a basilica built in ancient Rome.... . After the latter's death, his colleague Marcus Aemilius LepidusMarcus Aemilius Lepidus (187 BC) Marcus Aemilius Lepidus was a Roman consul, Pontifex Maximus and censor.... completed it, and it was frequently restored and redecorated by the members of the Aemilian gens, giving the basilica its current name. The 78 BC consul, homonymous of the preceding one, embellished it with the clipei ("shields"). This intervention is recalled in a coin from 61 BC by his son, Marcus Aemilius LepidusMarcus Aemilius Lepidus Marcus Aemilius Lepidus was a common name for several successive generations of a family in ancient Rome:... (see imagesBasilica Aemilia The Basilica Aemilia was a civil basilica in the Roman forum, in Rome, Italy.... ). According to other scholars, however, the Basilica Aemilia formed a different edifice from the Basilica Fulvia. The Basilica Paulli A new edifice in substitution of the Basilica Fulvia was begun in 55 BC by Lucius Aemilius Paulus Lepidus, and inaugurated by his son in 34 BC. This edifice had similar lines to the preceding one; however with a reduced length and a second nave in lieu of the back portico. The columns in the central nave, in African marbleMarble Marble is a metamorphic rock resulting from the metamorphism of limestone, composed mostly of calcite .... , had Corinthian capitalCapital (architecture) In several traditions of architecture including Classical architecture, the capital forms the crowning member of the column.... s and friezes with deeds from the history of Republican Rome. The columns in the second row were in cipolline marble and, finally, the external ones had Ionic capitals. After a fire, Augustus in 14 BC heavily restored the edifice. In this occasion the tabernae which preceded it towards the Forum square and the portico were totally rebuilt. The latter was dedicated to the emperor's two grandsons (Porticus Gai et Luci): it had two orders of arcades with pilasters and Doric semi-columns. The two upper floors of the basilica (which, according to some scholars, were still unfinished at the time) were totally rebuilt. Over the upper order an atticAttic An attic is an area found directly below the roof of a building.As attics fill the space between the ceiling of the top floo... was built, decorated with vegetable elements and statues of barbarians. The basilica was restored again in AD 22. On its two-hundredth anniversary, the Basilica Aemilia was considered by PlinyPliny the Elder Gaius Plinius Secundus, better known as Pliny the Elder, was an ancient author and natural philosopher of some import... to be one of the most beautiful buildings in RomeRome Rome is the capital of Italy and of its region, called Latium.... . It was a place for business and, in the porticus of Gaius and LuciusLucius Caesar Lucius Julius Caesar, most commonly known as Lucius Caesar, was the second son of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa and Julia t... (the grandsons of Augustus) fronting the Roman ForumRoman Forum The Roman Forum was the central area around which ancient Rome developed, in which commerce, business, prostitution, cult an... , there were the Tabernae Novae (New Shops). On the colored marble floor one still can see the green stains of bronze coins that melted when Rome was sacked by AlaricAlaric I Alaric I , who was likely born about 370 on an island named Peuce at the mouth of the Danube, became king of the Visigoths ... the VisigothVisigoth The Visigoths were one of two main branches of the Goths, an East Germanic tribe .... in 410 AD. Conspicuous remains of the basilica could still be seen in the RenaissanceRenaissance In the traditional view, the Renaissance was understood as a historical age in Europe that followed the Middle Ages and ... : they were however used for the Giraud-Torlonia Palace (also no longer existing). Inside, there are several tabernae. The main hall or court is behind the shops. Gallery