PORTICUS LIVIAE
begun by Augustus on the site of the house of
VEDIUS
POLLIO (q.v.) in 15 B.C., and finished and dedicated to Livia in 7 B.C.
(Cass.
Dio liv. 23;
lv. 8;
1 Suet. Aug. 29; Ov.
Fast. vi. 639). It is
represented on three fragments of the Marble Plan (10, 11, 109), and
was situated on the north slope of the Oppius on the south side of the
clivus Suburanus, between this street and the later baths of Trajan.
The porticus was rectangular, about 115 metres long and 75 wide, with
an outer wall and double row of columns within. In each of the long
sides were three niches, the central one square, the others semi-circular.
There was also a semi-circular apse on the south side. The entrance was
on the north, where a flight of steps, 20 metres wide, led down to the
clivus Suburanus. In the centre of the area was something that appears
to have been a fountain, but may possibly be the
AEDES CONCORDIAE
(q.v.) built by Livia. This porticus was very popular and magnificent
(Ov.
AA i. 71; Plin.
NH xiv. 11; Plin.
Ep. i. 5. 9;
Strabo v. 236),
the most important in the city after those of the campus Martius (HJ
315-316;
BC 1886, 270-274;
DE ii. 2160).
2 It is still mentioned in Not.
(Reg. 11), but no remains of it have ever come to light.
