Mamertine Prison

The most famed prison of ancient Rome was damaged when the roof of a central Roman church fell in. The church was closed at the time. The vault of San Giuseppe dei Falegnami (St Joseph of the Carpenters), at the Roman forum, caved in, damaging the Mamertine Prison beneath it.

According to tradition, Mamertine Prison was constructed around 640–616 BC, by Ancus Marcius.

It was created as a cistern for a spring in the floor of the second lower level. Prisoners were lowered through an opening into the dungeon. The Mamertine Prison was used to house Rome's defeated enemies. Many were executed there. Vercingetorix, leader of the Gauls during the Gallic War, was executed at Caesar's Triumph in 46 BC; Jugurtha, King of Numidia, died of starvation there in 104 BC; St Paul; and St. Peter, who was imprisoned there before being crucified.