The Leptis Manga: specifically Macellum and later Roman city.
The punic and later Roman city of Leptis Magna in modern-day Libya. More specifically to its macellum, A special kind of forum. As the city grew, this macellum replaced the old market in the year 8BC. The money to finance this project was paid by an influential local politician named Annobal Tapapi
Leptis Manga a best macellum
The punic and later Roman city of Leptis Magna in modern-day Libya. More specifically to its macellum, A special kind of forum. As the city grew, this macellum replaced the old market in the year 8BC. The money to finance this project was paid by an influential local politician named Annobal Tapapius Rufus.
Two octagonal buildings are known as tholoi in the middle of a large square surrounded by a portico, Where people could sell food and other stuff. Think of them as kiosks. The reconstruction shows the macellum at the begging of the 3rd century, AD when the tholoi were rebuilt in marble.
Over the years, the macellum became part of the imperial propaganda throughout the empire. Having a macellum was prestigious, as it could appear only in well-urbanised centres with a certain level of economic development. A well connected geographical position and a sufficient number of inhabitants.
This specific macellum in Leptis Magna is an unusual example, the architectonic translation of a spontaneous punic maker experience revised according to the Roman culture. Here, the elites of the atypical Romanised city expressed their own Romanisation, without suffering an imposition by the central government.
Furthermore, the macellum in Leptis Megna was one of the first in the Roman Empire, when only the most powerful areas built one to display their new Roman identity. Septimius Severus, the Roman emperor from 193 to 211 AD, was born in this city. His native tongue was punic and later when he learned Latin, He spoke with a funny provincial accent which tended to turn an 'S' into an 'SH' sound.
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