Jordan - Jerash: The Macellum

Click on photo to enlarge it

What is a macellum, you ask? The closest word I can think of is a grocery store. In Roman times, it was a market (usually indoors) that sold provisions, mostly fruits and vegetables, and some meats. The commodities were typically grown in the area of the market, but it wasn’t uncommon for them to be imported as well. 

A macellum is fairly easy to identify because of its design. Shops were arranged around a courtyard. In the center of the courtyard, a round structure, called a tholos, supported a domed roof. The macellum also had running water throughout, presumably to help keep meat cooler and to drain away fluid waste.

Comments