Adjacent to the Forum of Trajan is Trajan’s Market. This multi-story complex built into Quirinal Hill housed about 150 stores and offices plus warehouses. Think of it as a 1,900 year old shopping mall with commercial space. The main hall inside is supported by intersecting concrete barrel vaults (called groin vaults). This was an extremely innovative design for the early 2nd century AD. Apollodorus of Damascus was the genus architect. He was the same man who created Trajan’s Forum and the Pantheon. Unfortunately, his illustrious career ended abruptly when Emperor Trajan died in 117. After the new emperor Hadrian was offended by a remark of Apollodorus, the architect was banished. Some historians believed he was also executed.
