Macellum Magnum, Ancient Roman food market in Caelimontium district, Rome, Italy.
Macellum Magnum was a Roman food market on the Caelian Hill with a rectangular floor plan featuring vaulted ceilings and marble counters. The building contained separate sections dedicated to butchers, fishmongers, and produce vendors to accommodate different types of commerce.
Emperor Nero founded this market in 59 AD as a major trading center on the Caelian Hill. The structure remained an important commercial hub for centuries afterward, serving the city's merchant community.
The market served as a gathering place where Romans conducted daily shopping and informal social exchanges with neighbors and merchants. It was where the city's everyday commerce and interaction took place.
The remains are located beneath the Church of Santo Stefano Rotondo on the Caelian Hill today. When visiting the area, expect to find the site integrated into the modern neighborhood surrounding this church structure.
The market included sophisticated drainage systems designed specifically for butcher stalls to manage water and waste. This advanced infrastructure reveals how Romans engineered practical solutions into daily commercial spaces.
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