THE BASILICA ÆMILIA.
In B.C. 180, "Marcus Fulvius made contracts for a court of justice behind the new bankers' shops" (Livy, xl. 51). It was destroyed by fire, and rebuilt by Paullus Æmilius, B.C. 53.
Plutarch says that Paullus expended on it the large sum of money he had received from Cæsar as a bribe.
Pliny (xxxvi. 24) tells us it was celebrated for its columns of Phrygian marble.
For explanation of the word Basilica, see [page 82].