the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Encyclopedias
Appii-Forum
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (Ἀππίου φόρον , for the Lat. Appij Forum, "market-place of Appius"), a market-town I (with a so-called mansio) in Italy, 43 Roman miles from Rome (Itiner. Anton. p. 107, ed. Wessel; Itin. Hieros. p. 611), on the great road (via Appia) from I Rome to Brundusium, constructed by Appius Claudius (Suet. Tib. 2), and leading from Rome (by the Porta I Capena) through the Potine marshes (Hor. Sat. 1, 5, 3; Cic. Att. 2, 10; Plin. 3, 9; 14:8). The remains of an ancient town, supposed to be Appii-Forum, are still preserved at a place called Casarillo di Santa Maria, on the border of the Pontine marshes (comp. Strabo, 5:233), and the 43d milestone is still extant (Chaupy, Maison d'Horace, 3, 387-452; Pratilli, Via Appia, p. 99, 100). Its vicinity to the marshes accounts for the badness of the water, as mentioned by Horace (Sat. 1, 5, 7), who describes it as full of taverns and boatmen. This arose from the circumstance that it was at the northern end of a canal which ran parallel with the road through a considerable part of the Pontine marshes. When Paul was taken to Italy, some of the Christians of Rome, being apprised of his approach, journeyed to meet him as far as ‘"Appii-Forum and the Three Taverns" (Acts 28:15). The "Three Taverns" were eight or ten miles nearer to Rome than Appii-Forum (Antonin. Itin.). The probability is that some of the Christians remained at the "Three Taverns," where it was known the advancing party would rest, while some others went oh as far as Appii-Forum to meet Paul on the road (Conybeare and Howson, 2:359). The journey was undoubtedly along the Appian Way, remains of which are still extant. The "Three Taverns" (q.v.) was certainly a place for rest and refreshment (Cic. Attic. 2, 11, 13), perhaps on account of the bad water at Appii-Forum. It must be understood that Tres Tabernie was, in fact, the name of a town (comp. Theol. Annal. 1818, p. 88d sq.); for in the time of Constantine, Felix, bishop of Tres Tabernae, was one of the nineteen bishops who were appointed to decide the controversy between Donatus and Caecilianus (Optat. de Schism. Donat. 1, 26). As to the tabernae themselves, from which the place took its name, it is probable that they were shops ("tabernae deversoria," Plaut. Trucul. 3, 2, 29) for the sale of all kinds of refreshments, rather than inns or places of entertainment for travelers. See generally Schwarz, Deforo Appii et trib. tabernis (Altdorf, 1746). (See PAUL).
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Appii-Forum'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/a/appii-forum.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
