Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Emporium

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

EMPO'RIUM (ἐμπόριον). A mart or factory; i. e. a large building, containing ranges of bonding warehouses, in which foreign merchandize, brought by sea, was deposited, until disposed of to the retail dealers. (Vitruv. v. 12. 1.) The site was always enclosed by lofty walls, and often strongly fortified (Liv. xxi. 57.), if the town which contained the emporium was situated in an exposed part of the country. The annexed engraving (Emporium/1.1) is a ground-plan of some very extensive ruins on the banks of the Tiber under the Aventine hill, believed to be the remains of the emporium of Rome. (Liv. xxxv. 10.) The single line outside shows the circuit of the external wall enclosing the factory; o, a flight of steps leading down to the river, as mentioned by Livy; a b, and c d, portion sof wall containing the colonnades down to the river side, as directed by Vitruvius; m to n, remains of the walls which enclosed the range of warehouses. The parts actually remaining when the survey was made are marked by the dark lines; but it will be perceived that these remains are sufficiently extensive to authorize the completion of the circuit, as given in a lighter tint.

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