Macellum inscription
The counter of the meat market (Macellum) is made of very hard limestone and on its front it presents a perfectly preserved inscription, surrounded by a slight molding. It was probably the counter at the entrance to the market in the Roman city of Allon.
Translation: M. Sempronius Hymnus in his name and in the name of M. Sempronius Reburrus, his son, repaired at his expense the market, deteriorated by the passage of time and placed the stone tables.
Height: 320 mm; length: 2020 mm; width: 730 mm; height of letters: 35 mm.
The macellum would have been built in the 1st century, when the city got the rank of municipium. The reconstruction of the market, which the inscription alludes to, may be from the end of the 2nd century.
According to the inscription, Marco Sempronio Hymno, a slave who had to pay for his freedom, ordered the restoration of the tables of the meat market.
In 1538 there was a corsair attack that destroyed Vilajoiosa and in 1543 they wanted to rebuild the city, so they decided to reuse Roman remains. The table was then used as an altar, maybe in this time the "R" eas surely added to the word "Macellum", decoupling the table from the meat market and linking it to Consul Marco Marcelo.
Inscription: M(arcus) Sempronius Hymnus suo et M(arci) Semproni Reburri fili sui nomine, macellum vetustate co
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Nº inv. Vilamuseu 000520
