Basilica Porcia, Civil basilica in Roman Forum, Italy
Basilica Porcia was a rectangular building in the Roman Forum with a central nave flanked by columns that led to an apse where legal cases were heard. The structure displayed the typical layout of early Roman basilicas with side passages and a covered main hall.
Marcus Porcius Cato ordered its construction in 184 BC while serving as censor, making it the first Roman civil basilica of its kind. The building influenced how similar structures were designed throughout Roman cities for centuries to come.
The basilica served as a gathering place where merchants conducted business while citizens watched legal hearings take place indoors. The covered space allowed many people to meet and handle their daily affairs in one location.
The remains lie within the Roman Forum and can be seen while walking through the archaeological site. Wear sturdy shoes since the ground is uneven and the excavated areas do not have smooth paths.
A fire destroyed the basilica completely in 52 BC when the funeral pyre of politician Publius Clodius Pulcher spread to the building. This dramatic event marked the end of one of Rome's oldest administrative structures.
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