Argiletum

As it originally passed between the Comitium and the Basilica Pauli, the Argiletum was eventually absorbed by the construction of the Imperial fora from the time of Julius Caesar onwards. Given this encroachment, the limits of the street were defined differently in various periods. Livy indicates that the Temple of Ianus Geminus was located ad infimum Argiletum (Liv. 1.19.1). Another of the landmarks excavated in the area was a quadrifrons, which was located at the juncture of the Roman Forum, the Argiletum and the Forum of Caesar. It is suggested that a second arch or a temple was also constructed somewhere on the Argiletum, possibly close to the Temple of Ianus. By the time of Martial (died about AD 103), the Argiletum had become a seedy district filled with taverns and brothels. However, this reputation may not reflect the actual status of the residents since the population was constituted by a mix of elite and nonelite, side by side. == Myth ==

According to the myth, the tomb of a certain Argus was located in the Argiletum. Evander, son of the god Mercury and of the nymph Carmenta, had settled in Italy with a group of Arcadians from the city of Argos. A certain Argos came to his court, plotting to kill Evander and take possession of his kingdom. Evander's followers discovered his intentions and, without their lord knowing it, killed Argos. However, out of respect for the inviolable rights of hospitality, Evander honored Argos with a magnificent funeral and erected a tomb for him in a place that was later called Argiletum, which means "death of Argos". == Notes ==