BASILICA OPIMIA
erected probably by the consul L.
Opimius in 121 B.C.,
at the same time that he restored the temple of Concord.
The basilica
must have stood just north of the temple, between it and
the Tullianum
(Varro,
LL v. 156), and it was probably removed when
Tiberius rebuilt
the temple, as it is not mentioned after that date (
CIL vi.
2338, 2339;
DE i. 978; Thed. 145) The
celeberrimum monumentum
Opimi of
Cicero (pro Sest. 140) refers probably to both temple and
basilica;
celeberrimum (' much frequented,' not 'magnificent') is
contrasted with
his lonely tomb on the shore at Dyrrachium (
CP 1917,
194).