or Gradus Gemonii, among the Romans, was much the same as gallows or gibbet in England.—Some say they were thus denominated from the person who raised them; others, from the first criminals that suffered on them; and others, from the verb geno, "I sigh or groan."

The gradus gemonii, according to Publius Victor or Sextus Rufus, was a place raised on several steps, from whence they precipitated their criminals; others represent it as a place whereon offenders were executed, and afterwards exposed to public view. The gemoniae scale were in the tenth region of the city, near the temple of Juno. Camillus first appropriated the place to this use, in the year of Rome 358.