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The carcer (prison) consisted of the ancient Tullianum and, above it, the later Mammertine. Both still exist, turned into chapels below the medieval church above. From very early times the Romans used an old cistern as the holding cell for state prisoners awaiting exeution. The only entrance was through the hole in the ceiling. The highest ranking prisoners were paraded through Rome during the Triumph then, as the procession reached the end of the Forum, they were directed off to the Tullianum while the conquering general and his retinue proceeded up the Capitoline hill to sacrifice at the temple of Jupiter. Executions were usually promptly carried out, customarily by strangulation. However Jugurtha was left to starve to death. Among the more notable prisoners were Jugurtha, Vercingetorix, the Catiline conspirators. Sejanus' decpitated body was left on the stairs outside the prison. Christian tradition had St. Peter perform a miracle to excape the prison, hence its preservation as a chapel.
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