Macellum
The circular ruins which found under the debris of a mosque collapses in 1970 by the earthquake belongs to a public building called Macellum. This is a marketplace which meat, fish, olive oil and baked products is sold, and the using of the term “stock exchange” started after 1970’s. The Macellum which is defined with a circular shaped structure surrounded by stores, rises above a podium. 8 part of it reached today as a whole, 1 half conserved. But orriginally, it had 12 whole and 4 half parts. The ratio of the circular shaped structre is 13,27 meters.
Greek and Latin encryptions seen on the outer surface of these podium wall, are the copies of Maximum Price Decree (Edictum de Pretiis Rerum Venalium) of he Roman Empire Diocletianus, published in 301 CE. These encryptions includes the prices of the commodities which are sold in Imperial marketplaces. This was an attempt to stabilize the prices by law.
The area which Macellum found in was using as a Marketplace also until the earthquake. The area which was an open marketplace in Roman period, used as such functions although the cultures changed.
Last Update Date: 14 June 2023, Wednesday