Catasta
A raised platform upon which slaves were exposed for sale, so that the intending purchasers
might more readily examine their points (Tibull. ii. 3, 60;
Pers. vi.
77). The platform was sometimes made to revolve, as appears from Statius (
Silv. ii. 1 Silv., 72). When the
platform was used in private sales it was called
catasta arcana (
Mart.ix. 60.5). See
Servus.