Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography Volume II.djvu/664

 648 POMPEII. ject, with especial attention to the works of art dis- covered. The area occupied by the ancient city was an irreguhir oval, about 2 miles in circumterence. It was surrounded by a wall, which is still preserved round the whole of the city, except on the side towards the sea, where no traces of it have been found, and it seems certain that it had been pulled down in ancient times to allow for the extension of houses and other buildings down to the water's edge. The wall itself is in many places much ruined, as well as the towers that flank it, and though tbis may be in part owing to the earthquake of 03, as well as the eruption of 79, it is probable that the defences of the town had before that time P05IPEII. been allowed to fall into decay, and perhaps even intentionally dismantled after the Social War. There were seven gates, the most considerable and orna- mental of which was that which formed the en- trance to the city by the high road from Hercu- laneum : the others have been called respectively the gate of Vesuvius, the gate of Capua, the gate ot Noia, the gate of the Sarnus, the gate of Stabiae, and the gate of the Theatres. The entrances to the town from the side of the sea had ceased to be gates, there being no longer any walls on that side. All these names are of course modern, but are con- venient in assisting us to describe the city. The walls were strengthened with an Agger or rampart, faced with masonry, and having a parapet or outer PLAN 01^ I'ART OF POMPEII. 1. Villa of Arrius Diomedes. 2. Gate of Herculaueuni. 3. Public Baths. 4. Forum. a. 'I'pinple of Jupiter. fi. Temple of Augustus or Pantheon. 7. Senaculum. 8. lOditice of Eumachiii, 0. Biisilica. 10. Temple of Venus. 11. Ancient Greek Temple. 12. Great Theatre. 13. Square called the Soldiers' Quarters. 14. Small Theatre. 15. Temple of Isis. 16. Temple of Fortune. 17. Street leading to Gate of Nola. 18. Gate leadin;; to Vesuvius. a a a. Towers. bbh. Ancient line of coast. c c c. Modern road from Naples to Salerno.