The Forum Holitorium was the vegetables, herbs and oil forum venalium of early ancient Rome, by the Tiber at the foot of the Capitoline and Palatine hills. Once, the site of an early temple of Venus, the centre of buying and selling was transferred, in 388, to the Campus Martius (Forum Holitorium), leaving the old Roman Forum to the business of the State.
Four Republican temples once stood in the market, the temple Juno Sospita (Juno the savior} as well as temples of Janus, Pietas ("duty") and Spes ("hope"). The Temple of Pietas had two squares with one being dedicated to Diana, the temple was destroyed to make way for the Theatre of Marcellus. The other temples were eventually converted into a prison (called carcere, which means prison).
The Church of San Nicola in Carcere stands in the area that used to be the Forum Holitorium. The ruins of the three remaining temples are incorporated and lie beneath the church. Remains of other temples lie under and around the Church of Sant'Omobono.
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Last updated: 10-18-2005 17:04:07
