place
column of Maenius
also: the column of Maenius
The columna Maenia, an ancient column at the north-west corner of the Roman Forum (named after C. Maenius, cos. 338 BC); its base was a notorious haunt of money-lenders, debtors, and disreputable persons. Cicero uses the figure as a place-marker for shady acquaintance (Div. in Caec. 50; Pro Sest. 124).
Reading notes
- Against Caecilius (Divinatio) §50 the column of Maenius
A column in the Forum near the praetor's tribunal; it became a notorious haunt of debtors, petty defendants, and disreputable hangers-on. Cicero throws it at Caecilius as the natural source of his shabby prosecution team.