DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.63447#0026
10
INTRODUCTORY.
of costly magnificence, formed a worthy complement to
the many wonders of Rome.
Fourteen magnificent aqueducts crossed the Campagna
from the Sabine hills, conveying from these the pure and
abundant water, for which Rome is still famous, into the
hundred nympheums of the city. The baths of Diocle-
tian alone afforded accommodation to two thousand four
hundred bathers. Nor must the gardens of Sallust be
forgotten in the enumeration of the beauties and pleasures
of Rome. These gardens, situated in the direction of the
Pincian Hill and Porta Salara, formed a sort of fabled
ground of delight, bringing enjoyment to the senses and
to the mind. Whilst from their heights a view of the
surrounding country was commanded, they afforded a
refuge from the heat in shady groves, adorned with lovely
temples. Statues and circuses bordered the spacious
avenues, affording every variety of amusement, as well as
the charm of verdure and of clustering plants, and forming
the choice retreat of the principal citizens of Rome, whilst
beautiful fountains flowed with murmuring waters into
shells of marble and bronze, and cooled the summer air.
Thus stood the gorgeous city, with its pantheon of
religious creeds, the mart of all the splendours of the
world, and fretted with marble and gold, till the vengeful
hand of Christianity was brought to bear against her
temples and fanes. The arch of Constantine closes the
series of Roman monuments.
The work of destruction was soon to begin. The church
of St. Peter was built with materials taken from the
circus of Caligula and other edifices; but the work of
dilapidation and transmutation was slow: long after the
time described, Roman luxury and magnificence was still
a bye-word and a show. Gradually the more marked ex-
ternal features of Pagan Rome were obliterated. A new
Rome was built over the ruins of the ancient city. A new
creed was grafted on society; and now again from Rome,
the Eternal City, the Papacy extended its dominion, and
spread its many-tangled web, “ urbi et orbi,” over the
Christian world.
INTRODUCTORY.
of costly magnificence, formed a worthy complement to
the many wonders of Rome.
Fourteen magnificent aqueducts crossed the Campagna
from the Sabine hills, conveying from these the pure and
abundant water, for which Rome is still famous, into the
hundred nympheums of the city. The baths of Diocle-
tian alone afforded accommodation to two thousand four
hundred bathers. Nor must the gardens of Sallust be
forgotten in the enumeration of the beauties and pleasures
of Rome. These gardens, situated in the direction of the
Pincian Hill and Porta Salara, formed a sort of fabled
ground of delight, bringing enjoyment to the senses and
to the mind. Whilst from their heights a view of the
surrounding country was commanded, they afforded a
refuge from the heat in shady groves, adorned with lovely
temples. Statues and circuses bordered the spacious
avenues, affording every variety of amusement, as well as
the charm of verdure and of clustering plants, and forming
the choice retreat of the principal citizens of Rome, whilst
beautiful fountains flowed with murmuring waters into
shells of marble and bronze, and cooled the summer air.
Thus stood the gorgeous city, with its pantheon of
religious creeds, the mart of all the splendours of the
world, and fretted with marble and gold, till the vengeful
hand of Christianity was brought to bear against her
temples and fanes. The arch of Constantine closes the
series of Roman monuments.
The work of destruction was soon to begin. The church
of St. Peter was built with materials taken from the
circus of Caligula and other edifices; but the work of
dilapidation and transmutation was slow: long after the
time described, Roman luxury and magnificence was still
a bye-word and a show. Gradually the more marked ex-
ternal features of Pagan Rome were obliterated. A new
Rome was built over the ruins of the ancient city. A new
creed was grafted on society; and now again from Rome,
the Eternal City, the Papacy extended its dominion, and
spread its many-tangled web, “ urbi et orbi,” over the
Christian world.