Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 08.djvu/136

LEFT ROME 102 ROME adorned with a vast number of splendid ica Julia, commenced by Caesar and corn- buildings, including temples, palaces, pleted by Augustus; and the Basilica public halls, theaters, amphitheaters, Porcia, which was built by Cato the baths, porticoes, monuments, etc., of censor. many of which we can now form only The public baths or thermal in Rome a very imperfect idea. The oldest and were also very numerous. The largest most sacred temple was that of Jupiter were the Thermas of Titus, part of the Capitolinus, on the Capitoline Hill. The substructure of which may still be seen Pantheon, a temple of various gods (now on the Esquiline Hill; the Thermae of Church of S. Maria Rotonda), is still Caracalla, even larger, extensive remains in excellent preservation. It is a great of which still exist in the S. E. of the circular building with a dome roof of city; and the Thermae of Diocletian, the stone 140 feet wide and 140 feet high, largest and most magnificent of all, part Other temples were the Temple of Apollo, of which is converted into a church. Of which Augustus built of white marble, the triumphal arches the most celebrated on the Palatine, containing a splendid are those of Titus (a. d. 81), Severus library, which served as a place of re- (a. d. 203), and that of Constantine sort to the poets; the Temple of Min- (a. d. 311), all in or near the Forum and erva, which Pompey built in the Campus all well preserved structures; that of Martius, and which Augustus covered Drusus (b. c. 8), in the Appian Way, with bronze; the Temple of Peace, once much mutilated; that of Gallienus (a. d. the richest and most beautiful temple in 262) on the Esquiline Hill, in a de- Rome, built by Vespasian, in the Via graded style of architecture. Among Sacra, which contained the treasures of the columns the most beautiful was Tra- the temple of Jerusalem, a splendid li- jan's Pillar in the Forum of Trajan, 147 brary, and other curiosities, but was feet in height, still standing. The bas- burned during the reign of Commodus; reliefs with which it is enriched, ex- the temple of the Sun, which Aurelian tending in spiral fashion from base to erected to the E. of the Quirinal; and summit, represent the exploits of Trajan, the magnificent temple of Venus, which and contain about 2,500 half and whole Caesar caused to be built to her as the human figures. A flight of stairs with- origin of his family. The principal pal- in the pillar leads to the top. The most ace of ancient Rome was the Palatium celebrated of ancient sewers is the Clo- or imperial palace, on the Palatine Hill, aca Maxima, ascribed to Tarquinius a private dwelling-house enlarged and Priscus, a most substantial structure, the adopted as the imperial residence by Au- outlet of which is still to be seen, gustus. Succeeding emperors extended The Roman aqueducts were formed by and beautified it. erecting one or several rows of arches Nero built an immense palace which superimposed on each other across a was burned in the great fire. He began valley, and making the structure sup- to replace it by another of similar ex- port a waterway or canal, and by pierc- tent, which was not completed till the ing through hills which interrupted the reign of Domitian. Among the theaters, watercourse. Some of them brought those of Pompey, Cornelius Balbus, and water from a distance of upward of 60 Marcellus were the most celebrated, miles. Among others, the Aqua Paola, That of Pompey, in the Campus Mar- or Aqua Trajana, and the Aqua Mar- tius, was capable of containing 40,000 zia, still remain, and contribute to the persons. Of the Theater of Marcellus, supply of the city, and also its numer- completed 13 B. C, a portion still re- ous important ornamental fountains, mains. The most magnificent of the Among the magnificent sepulchral mon- amphitheaters was that of Titus, com- uments, the chief were the mausoleum pleted A. D. 80, now known as the Coli- of Augustus in Campus Martius ; and seum or Colosseum. Though only one- that of Hadrian, on the W. bank of the third of the gigantic structure remains, Tiber, now the fortress of modern Rome, the ruins are still stupendous. The prin- and known as the Castle of St. Angelo. cipal of the circuses was the Circus The catacombs of Rome are subterra- Maximus, between the Palatine and nean galleries which were used as burial Aventine, which was capable of con- places and meeting places, chiefly by the taining 260,000 spectators. With slight early Christians, and which extend under exception its walls have entirely disap- the city itself as well as the neighboring peared, but its form is still distinctly country. The chief are the catacombs traceable. The porticoes or colonnades, of Calixtus, St. Praetextatus on the Via which were public places used for recrea- Appia ; of St. Priscilla, 2 miles beyond tion or for the transaction of business, the Porta Salora; of St. Agnese, outside were numerous in the ancient city, as were the Porta Pia ; of S. Sebastiano, beneath also the basilicas or public halls. Among the church of that name, etc. See Cat- them may "be noticed the splendid Basil- aoombs.