Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography Volume II.djvu/832

 812 ROMA. Whence we may perhaps conclude that the baths also were near the same spot (v. Preller, Reglonen, p. 200; Canina, Indicaz. p. 5i53, seq.), where they seem to be indicated by the Capitoline plan (Bellori, tav. 4) and by traces of ruins. The baths of Decius are mentioned by Eutropius (ix. 4). Near the same spot appears to have been the House of Trajan before he became emperor, designated in the Notilia as Privata Trajani, in which neighbourhood an inscription relating to a Domus Ulpiorum was found. (Gruter, xlv. 10.) Hence we may conclude that under the Empire the Aventine had become a more fashionable residence than during the Republic, when it seems to have been principally inhabited by plebeian families. The residence of Ennius, who, as we have said, possessed a house here, was, however, sufficient to ennoble it. The narrow strip of ground between the hill and the Tiber also belonged to the district of the Aven- tine. In ancient times it was called " E.xtra PoKTAM Trigeminam," and was one of the busiest parts of the city, in consequence of its containing the emporium, or harbour of discharge for all laden ships coming up the river. Here also was the prin- cipal corn-market, and the Basis Capitolina men- tions a Vicus Frumentarius in this neighbourhood. The period of its development was between the Second and Third Punic Wars, when the aediles ]I. Aemilius Lepidus and L. Aemilius Paullus first founded a regular Ejiporium, and at the same time the PoRTicus Aemilia. (Liv. ssxv. 10.) Their suc- cessors, M. Tuccius and P. Junius Brutus, founded a second portico inter Ugnarios, which epithet seems to refer to the timber yards at this spot. (Id. xxxv. 41.) Subsequently, in the censorshipofM. Aemilius Lepidus and M. Fulvius Nobilior, the building of a harbour and of a bridge over the Tiber was commenced, as well as the foundation of a market and of other por- ticoes. (Liv. xl. 51.) The next censors, Q. Fulvius Flaccus and A. Postumius Albinus, paved the em- porium w'ith slabs of stone, constructed stairs lead- ing down to the river, restored the Porticus Aemilia, and built another portico on the summit of the Aventine. (Liv. xli. 27.) The neighbourhood still bears the name of La Marmoraia; and as numerous blocks of unwrought marble have at different times been discovered near the Vigna Cesarini, sometimes bearing numbers and the names of the exporters, it seems to have been the principal place for landing foreign marbles, and perhaps also for the workshops of the sculptors. (Vacca, ifem. 95 — 98; Fea, Miscell. i, p. 93; Bunsen, Beschr. iii. p. 432.) Just in this neighbourhood stood a temple of Jupiter DoLiCHENUS or Dolicenus, indicated in the Notitia under the name of Dolocenum. It is connected with the worship of the sun-god, brought from Heliopolis in Syria, concerning which there are nu- merous inscriptions, treated of by Marini {Atti, cfc. pp. 538 — 548). In these the god is called Jup. 0. M. Dolichenus, and sometimes a Juno Assyria Re- gina Dolichena is also mentioned. The worship re- sembled that brought to Rome by Elagabalus, but was previous to it, as some of the inscriptions relate to the time of Commodus. The temple seems to have been in the neighbourhood of 5. Alessio, as several inscriptions relating to the god were found here. (Preller, Regionen,-^. 202.) The broad level to the S. of the hill in which the Monte Testaccio stands, probably contained the large and important magazines mentioned in the Notilia, such as the HorreaGalbiana et ANiciANA,which ROMA. seem to have been a kind of warehouses for storing im- ported goods. They are sometimes mentioned in in- scriptions. (Gruter, Ixxv. 1 ; Orell. 45.) The Monte Testaccio iiiidt'is an artificial hill of potsherds, 153ft. high according to Conti, and about one-third of a mile in circumference. Its origin is enveloped in mystery. According to the vulgar legend it was composed of the fragments of vessels in which the subject nations brought their tribute. A more plausible opinion was that this was the quarter of the pot- teries', and that the hill rose from the pieces spoiled in the process of manufacture; but this notion was refuted by the discovery of a tomb, during the ex- cavation of some caves in the interior to serve as wine-cellars. (^Beschr. iii. p. 434.) The whole dis- trict round the hill is strewed to a depth of 1 5 or 20 feet with the same sort of rubbish ; the Porta Ostiensis, built by Ilonorius, stands on this facti- tious soil, which is thus proved to have existed at the beginning of the fifth century; but its origin will never, perhaps, be explained. The last object we need mention here is the Forum Pistorium, or Bakers' Market, so named apparently not because they made or sold their goods here, but because this was the place in which they bought their corn. We may remark that it was just opposite this point, under the Janiculum, tliat the corn-mills lay. (Preller, Regionen, p. 205.) YIII. The Velabkum, Forum Boakium, and Circus Maxibius. Between the Palatine, the Aventine, and the Tiber, the level ground was occupied by two dis- tricts called the Velabrum and the Forum Boarium, whilst the valley between the two hills themselves was the site of the Circus Maximus. It will be the object of the present section to describe these dis- tricts and the monuments which they contained. They were comprehended in the 11th Region of Augiistus, called " Circus Maximus," of which the Velabrum forined the boundary on the N., where it joined the 8th Region, or " Forum Romanum." All accounts conspire in representing the Vei^A- BRUM as a marsh, or lake, at the time when Rome was founded, whence we may conclude that it could not have been built upon till the ground had been thoroughly drained by the construction of the Cloaca Maxima. Thus Tibullus (ii. 5. 33) : — " At qua Velabri regie patet, ire solebat Exiguus pulsa per vada linter aqua." (Cf VaiT. L.L. V. 43, seq. Miill.; Prop. v. 9. 5; Ov. Fast. vi. 399, &c.) Its situation between the Vicus Tuscus and Forum Boarium is ascertained from the descriptions of the route taken by triumphal and festal processions. (Liv. xxvii. 37; Ov. I. c. ; Plut. Rom. V. &c.) Its breadth, that is, its exten- sion between the Vicus Tuscus and the Forum Boarium, cannot be accurately determined, but seems not to have been very great. Its termination on the S. was by the Arcus Argentarius, close to the modern church of S. Giorgio in Veluhro, which marked the entrance into the Forum Boarium. This site of the Velabrum is also proved by testimonies which connect it with the Nova Via, the Porta Romanula, and the sepulchre of Acca Larentia. (Varr. /.. L. vi. § 24, Miill. ; cf. Cic. ad BnU. 15; Macrob. S. i. 10.) It is uncertain whether the Sackllum Volupiae, which also lay on the Nova Via, should be assigned to the Velabrum or to the Palatine. (Varr. lb. v. § 164; Macrob. lb.)