A B C D E F L M P R S T
Ae Ar At

Atrium

Timeline

  • 212 BCE: First mention of the building (in Liv. 25.7.12)
  • 194 BCE: Censors likely restore and enlarge this Atrium Libertatis
  • 39 BCE: Remade by C. Asinius Pollio as the first public library in Rome

Physical evidence

  • It used to be believed that it was in the southeast portion of the Forum Iulium
  • F. Castagnoli argues it was in the northwest portion
  • Large structure
  • As far from the Forum Romanum as the Forum Iulium was long

Literary sources

  • Serv. Aen. 1.726 (on size)
  • Cic. Att. 4.17.7 (on distance to Forum Romanum)
  • Liv. 25.7.12, 34.44.5, 35.10.12, 43.16.13
  • Plin. nat. hist. 36.23ff
  • Suet. Aug. 29