Hecatostylum

A ‘hundred-columned’ structure is twice mentioned by Martial (2.14.9: centum pendentia tecta columnis, 3.19.1: proxima centenis ... columnis), who places it in the vicinity of the *Porticus Pompei (its groves of plane trees are mentioned at 2.14.10, perhaps also at 3.19.2). Just N of Pompey’s Portico was a long structure labeled [HECAT]OSTYLVM on the Severan Marble Plan (Rodríguez Almeida, Forma pl. 32, frag. 39). Its Latinized Greek name corresponds well with Martial’s centum columnae. The Chronicon of St. Jerome confirms that it stood near the *Theatrum Pompeium, since both burned in A.D. 247 (Hieron., Chron. a Abr. 2263: theatrum Pompei incensum et <h>ecatonstylon). Coarelli (LTUR) identifies the Hecatostylum with the 1st-c. B.C. porticus Lentulorum (accepted as a strong possibility by Orlandi), though the present map keeps the conventional name. From the Marble Plan, it seems that this structure followed the present Via del Sudario, extending from the cavea of the Theatrum Pompeium as far as Via S. Nicola de’ Cesarini, the E limit of the *“Area Sacra” in Largo Argentina. Martial’s description (2.14.9) of the Hecatostylum as a long roofed colonnade is consistent with the Marble Plan, which shows columns divided into two rows (more numerous on the S row) separated by a continuous line. It appears that the Hecatostylum was physically joined to the Porticus Pompeianae, given the exedrae facing both N and S along the dividing line between the two, as shown on plans by Lanciani (FUR pl. 21), Gleason, and Coarelli (1997). The E end of the Hecatostylum has been excavated by Marchetti-Longhi; plans of this excavated portion form the basis for our map.