Avodah Zarah Daf 16 עבודה זרח דַף 16

The Gemara asks: שור של פטם מהו – what is the halachah regarding selling a fattened ox, which is unfit for work? This question is relevant according to both opinions in the Mishnah on Daf 14b. Although Rebbe Yehudah permits selling a שבורה  – “broken” animal (i.e., injured and incapable of work), that may be because it can never become capable of work, whereas a fattened ox, דכי משהי ליה  – where if [the buyer] retains it and feeds it less, אתי לכלל מלאכה – it comes into the category of animals capable of work, perhaps it would be forbidden. [Later, Rav Ashi reports being told by Zevida (a cattle fattener) that fattened oxen, after returning to normal size, do double the work of normal oxen.]

On the other hand, although the Rabbonon prohibit selling even a "שבורה", that may be because it is presumably not intended for shechitah (because it is thin from its injuries), and will instead be kept for breeding, causing people to mistakenly believe that general sale of large animals to idolators is permitted. In contrast, a fattened ox, דסתמיה לשחיטה קאי – which presumably is for shechitah, perhaps even the Rabbonon would permit its sale.

Rav Chanin bar Rav Chisda (or Rav Chanan bar Rava) said in Rav’s name: חיה גסה הרי היא כבהמה דקה לפירכוס – a large wild animal is like a small domesticated animal regarding convulsive movement (the requirement for an animal which was dying before shechitah to move its leg back and forth after shechitah to be kosher), אבל לא למכירה – but not regarding selling to an idolator. Rav holds selling a large חיה  is always prohibited, like selling large בהמות. Rav Chanin (or Rav Chanan) himself said that selling a חיה גסה to idolators depends on the local  מנהג (just like selling small בהמות). The Gemara asks that the Mishnah here prohibits selling them lions or bears, or any animal שיש בו נזק לרבים – which presents potential harm to the public, implying that selling a חיה גסה  which is not dangerous (e.g., a tamed lion) is permitted!? Rabbah bar Ulla answers that the Mishnah is discussing ארי שבור – an injured lion which is incapable of work (and follows Rebbe Yehudah, who permits selling injured animals). Rav Ashi says: סתם ארי שבור הוא אצל מלאכה – an ordinary lion is “injured” regarding work, because even a healthy lion is incapable of working for a man. A Baraisa explicitly prohibits selling a חיה גסה, and refutes Rav Chanan bar Rava.

Rebbe Yochanan said: ג' בסילקאות הן – there are three types of basilicas: those of idol-worshipping kings, those of bathhouses, and those of storehouses. Rava said it is permitted to help build two of these types but not the third. A siman to remember is the passuk: לאסור מלכיהם בזיקים – to bind their kings with chains, reminding us that a basilica of “kings” is "אסור" to build, because they judge capital cases there. In another version, Rava said all three are permitted to build. This is challenged from the Mishnah on amud alef which states: אין בונין עמהן בסילקי גרדום איצטדייא ובימה – we may not build with them a basilica, a court building, a stadium, and a platform. This proves it is forbidden to build some type of basilica!? The Gemara answers that the Mishnah should be read that one may not build a basilica of a court building, stadium, or platform.