Macellum of Pozzuoli, Roman marketplace ruins in Pozzuoli, Italy
The Macellum of Pozzuoli is an ancient Roman market building surrounded by 34 grey granite columns arranged around a central courtyard with a circular structure at its center. The excavated remains reveal specialized shop spaces with marble counters designed for selling seafood and meat.
This marketplace was built between the late first and early second century AD during Rome's expansion in the region. The structure was later restored and improved during the Severan period in the third century.
The central rotunda displayed African marble columns and carvings of sea creatures, showing how traders moved goods across the Mediterranean.
Take time to walk through the layout and observe how the different sales areas were organized for efficiency. Using the columns and central structure as landmarks will help you understand the marketplace arrangement.
Three standing marble columns bear distinct marks from shellfish, revealing how the sea level changed over centuries in this area. These natural traces help researchers understand shifts in the local environment.
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