What is the architecture and function of Trajan's Market?

Trajan's Market is a vast complex of ancient ruins in Rome, built into the excavated flank of the Quirinal Hill as an integral part of Trajan's Forum. Though often called the world's oldest shopping mall, its multi-level arcades are now widely believed to have served as administrative offices for Emperor Trajan. The surviving complex features multi-level shops and apartments, delicate marble floors, and the remains of a library.

What we know

• Trajan's Market is a large complex of ruins located in Rome on the Via dei Fori Imperiali, nestled against the excavated flank of the Quirinal Hill. [1, 2]
• The complex was built as an integral part of Trajan's Forum. [2, 4]
• While historically thought to be the world's oldest shopping mall, many now believe the arcades served as administrative offices for Emperor Trajan. [2]
• The multi-level structure includes shops, apartments, delicate marble floors, and the remains of a library. [2, 3]

Still open

• There is a shift in interpretation regarding whether the complex functioned primarily as a shopping mall or as administrative offices.

Where to go next

• whoWhat role did Apollodorus of Damascus play in designing Trajan's architectural projects?
• compared withHow does Trajan's Forum compare to the other Imperial fora of ancient Rome?
• how it workedWhat was the layout and contents of the Ulpian Library?
• the bigger pictureWhat architectural innovations characterized Trajanic art during the Roman Empire?
• how we knowHow does Trajan's Column commemorate the Dacian Wars?
• an unexpected connectionHow does a monumental column connect to lost imperial writings?The neighboring Ulpian Library likely housed Emperor Trajan's lost commentary on the Dacian Wars, which scholars believe inspired the spiralling narrative sculpted onto Trajan's Column.

Sources

• [1]Trajan's Market (Wikidata Q478642) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Trajan's Market · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Trajan's Column · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Trajan's Forum · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Trajanic art · CC BY-SA 4.0