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].
Between this and the Church of S. Adriano stood
THE BASILICA PORCIA.
In B.C. 185, "Cato purchased for the use of the people the two houses, Mænius and Titius, in the Lautumiæ, and four shops, erecting on that ground a court of justice, which was called the Porcian" (Livy, xxxix. 44). "The tribunes likewise opposed him very much in his building, at the public charge, a hall below the Senate House, by the Forum, which he finished notwithstanding, and called it the Porcian Basilica" (Plutarch, in "Cato").
This is where the tribunes of the people used to hold their courts. It was destroyed by fire at the same time as the Curia.
Behind was