Old Rome: A Handbook to the Ruins of the City and the Campagna — Reading Notes

Chapter IX. the nature of the soil and configuration of the hills and valleys of the district surrounding the city are stated.

In the Appendix to the eighth chapter will be found a list of the chief monumental antiquities in the museums, galleries, and other public places. This has been thought to be useful, as these are often difficult to recognise from being mixed with so many other attractive and important objects of more modern art and history. All speculative conjectures as to the probable sites or constructions of ancient buildings or places have been avoided. Such questions require more space than can be spared in so small a volume, and have been fully treated of in my larger work, “Rome and the Campagna.”

I have confined myself in this handbook to a brief topographical, archæological, and historical description of each existing ruin or monument. The references given have been restricted to modern treatises and to a few of the more rarely read Greek and Latin authors. Full classical authorities are given in “Rome and the Campagna,” and are referred to in the foot-notes of this handbook.

The importance of topographical and archæological knowledge, in enabling us to realise the history of ancient life, both national and social, is fortunately becoming more and more generally recognised. The early growth and characteristic features of the Roman commonwealth can be traced in great measure to the conformation of the ground on which the community was first developed. Such local influences are among the highest and most philosophical parts of historical investigation, and have a most important value in enabling us to form an estimate of the truth of statements made by the ancient writers of history.

Besides this interest which pervades the early stage of Roman history, there is also a natural connection, by way of cause or explanation, between the events of later times and the localities in which they occurred; and this in social as well as in national history. Many Roman customs and usages, now extinct, are illustrated and realised by the knowledge gained from monuments of ancient architecture and art. And again, the spirit of Roman literature is more fully sympathised with, and its difficult passages and allusions are frequently elucidated by the light of archæological knowledge.

Thus there is not only the poetical and imaginative satisfaction, which is usually felt most vividly in treading the soil, surveying the scenes, and breathing the air in which great historical persons lived and events occurred, but also an element of fact which gives a firm basis of incontestable truth to our knowledge, and which no speculative interpretation can dissolve.

It is hoped, therefore, that even such an abridged description of ruins, and such a summary of archæological results as that which forms the basis of the present volume, will not be without use to the student of history, as well as a guide to the traveller.

In the chapter on the ruins of the Campagna I have inserted some statements on the geological formations, and on the climate, which appear to have influenced the history and the architecture of that district.

The books from which useful information has been derived are, in addition to those mentioned in the list given in “Rome and the Campagna,” some of the later numbers of “Annali dell’ Instituto,” a small treatise called “Guida del Palatino,” by C. L. Visconti and R. A. Lanciani, and “A Topographical Study of the Roman Forum,” by Mr. F. M. Nichols.

CAMBRIDGE. _Sept. 24, 1879._

THE PALATINE AND VELIA 14

THE COLISEUM AND ESQUILINE 58

THE IMPERIAL FORA AND THE CAPITOLIUM 83

THE VELABRUM AND THE CIRCUS FLAMINIUS 103

PANTHEON, COLUMN OF MARCUS AURELIUS, MAUSOLEUM OF AUGUSTUS, MAUSOLEUM OF HADRIAN, AND NEIGHBOURHOOD 127

THE QUIRINAL HILL--BATHS OF DIOCLETIAN--AGGER OF SERVIUS--CASTRA PRÆTORIA 153

THE AVENTINE AND CÆLIAN HILLS 161

APPENDIX TO CHAPTER VIII. MONUMENTAL ANTIQUITIES IN THE MUSEUMS, PIAZZAS, AND OTHER PLACES 177

INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IX 185

A. THE VIA APPIA AND THE ALBAN HILLS 194 B. THE VIA LATINA AND TUSCULUM 210 C. GABII AND PRÆNESTE 219 D. OSTIA AND PORTO 229 E. TIBUR 235 F. NORTH-WESTERN CAMPAGNA 256

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

TEMPLE OF JUPITER _Title page._

TEMPLE OF SATURN, ETC. 47

COLISEUM, FROM THE PALATINE HILL 62

FORUM OF NERVA, IN 1600 95

PALATINE HILL, TEMPLE OF HERCULES, AND CLOACA MAXIMA 109

THEATRE OF MARCELLUS 113

THE QUIRINAL HILL FROM THE PALATINE 154

ARCH OF DOLABELLA 175

PEDESTAL OF ANTONINE COLUMN 179

CONE FROM THE TOP OF HADRIAN’S MAUSOLEUM 180

CIRCUS OF MAXENTIUS 213

TEMPLE OF VESTA AT TIBUR 250

PLAN OF ANCIENT ROME, WITH RAILWAYS 1

PLAN OF THE HILLS OF ROME 2

ROME, THE PRESENT WALLS, AND WALLS OF AURELIAN 4

PLAN OF THE PALATINE HILL 14

PLAN OF RUINS IN THE FORUM ROMANUM 38

PLAN OF MONS OPPIUS 73

FORA OF THE CÆSARS 82

THE CIRCUS FLAMINIUS 122

FRAGMENTS OF PIANTA CAPITOLINA--THEATRE OF POMPEY 124

THE THERMÆ OF DIOCLETIAN 154

THE SERVIAN WALLS 156