The "Mamertine Prison" (also referred to as the Tullianum) was a prison (Carcer) located in the Forum Romanum in Ancient Rome. It was located on the northeastern slope of the Capitoline Hill, facing the Curia and the imperial forums of Nerva, Vespasian, and Augustus. Located between it and the Tabularium (record house) was a flight of stairs leading to the Arx of the Capitoline. The Roman Forum (Forum Romanum) was a central area of ancient Rome in which commerce, business, trading and the administration of justice took place. ... Ancient Rome was a civilization that existed in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East between 753 BC and its downfall in AD 476. ... Piazza del Campidoglio, on the top of Capitoline Hill The Capitoline Hill (Capitolinus Mons), between the Forum and the Campus Martius, is one of the famous and highest of the seven hills of Rome, the site of a temple for the Capitoline Triad: the gods Jupiter, his wife Juno and... The Curia, inside the Forum The Curia of ancient Rome was the place where the Senate met to discuss the making of laws and take decisions about the affairs of the Republic. ... Marcus Cocceius Nerva (November 8, 30 AD-January 27, 98), Roman emperor (AD 96-98), was a member of the Italian nobility rather than one of the elite of Rome; in this he was like Vespasian, the founder of the Flavian dynasty. ... Emperor Vespasian Caesar Vespasianus Augustus (November 18, 9 – June 23, 79), originally known as Titus Flavius Vespasianus and best known as Vespasian, was the emperor of Rome from 69 to 79. ... Augustus (plural Augusti) is Latin for majestic or venerable. The greek equivalent is sebastos, or a mere grecization (by changing of the ending) augustos. ... The Tabularium, on the right, with the medioeval Senate palace built upon. ...

The Prison was constructed in around the time of the First Sack of Rome by Gauls, about 386 BC. It was originally created as a cistern for a spring in the floor of the second lower level (there were two, the lower of which was were prisoners were kept by lowering them through the floor of the upper room) however eventually a connection between the cistern drain and the Cloaca Maxima was made, reputedly for washing out dead bodies. The Battle of the Allia was a battle of the first Gallic invasion of Italy. ... Gallia (in English Gaul) is the Latin name for the region of western Europe occupied by present-day France, Belgium, western Switzerland and the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the west bank of the Rhine river. ... Centuries: 5th century BC - 4th century BC - 3rd century BC Decades: 430s BC 420s BC 410s BC 400s BC 390s BC - 380s BC - 370s BC 360s BC 350s BC 340s BC 330s BC 391 BC 390 BC 389 BC 388 BC 387 BC 386 BC 385 BC 384 BC 383... The Cloaca Maxima was one of the worlds earliest sewage systems. ...

The name "Tullianum" supposedly comes from the name Tullus Hostilis or possibly Servius Tullius (the latter supported by Livy, Varro, and also Sallust). The name "Mamertine" comes from a medieval misconception that it was the place where St. Peter was imprisoned before his execution. Bust of Livy Titus Livius (around 59 BC - 17 AD), known as Livy in English, wrote a monumental history of Rome, Ab urbe condita, from its founding (traditionally dated to 753 BC). ... Marcus Terentius Varro ([[116 BC]–27 BC), also known as Varro Reatinus to distinguish him from his contemporary Varro Atacinus, was a Roman scholar and writer, who the Romans came to call the most learned of all the Romans. ... Sallust (Gaius Sallustius Crispus) (86-34 BC), Roman historian, belonging to a well-known plebeian family, was born at Amiternum in the country of the Sabines. ... According to tradition, Peter was crucified upside-down, as shown in this painting by Caravaggio. ...

Typically, only higher profile prisoners were kept in the prison, usually foreign commanders who were defeated and became the centerpiece in a Roman triumphant procession. They usually remained in the Tullianum until either they were taken out and executed or until they died by natural causes within the jail. However, no citizens were ever held in the Tullianum unless condemned, as Roman law did not recognize imprisonment as punishment.

It is not known when the Tullianum went out of service permanently, however the site is currently occupied by a small church.

Persons held in the Tullianum: Jugurtha Vercingetorix Jugurtha, (c. ... Vercingetorix (72 BC - 46 BC), (French: Vercingétorix) chieftain of the Arverni, led the great Gallic revolt against the Romans in 53-52 BC. His name in Gaulish means over-king of warriors (ver-rix cingetos). ...