DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.786#0141
chap, xxxvni.] F^ESULjE NOT A FIRST-RATE CITY.
125
fore, much inferior in size to certain other Etruscan cities—
Veii, Volaterrse, Agylla, Tarquinii, for instance. The highest
crest of the hill to the north-west, where the Franciscan
convent now stands, was originally the Arx; for here have
been found, at various times, traces of a triple concentric
wall, engirdling the height, all within the outer line of the
ancient fortifications.5 Nothing of the triple wall is now
to be seen. In the Church of S. Alessandro, on the same
height, are some columns of cipollino, which probably
belonged to a Roman temple on this spot.6
Though little of antiquity is to be seen on this height,
the visitor should not fail to ascend it for the sake of
its all-glorious view. No scene in Italy is better known,
or has been more often described, than that " from
on this account to rank it among the
Twelve. And so also Miiller, Etrusk.
II. 1, 2. But on tliis score, there are
other towns in Etruria which might
compete with it for that honour.
The early writers on the antiquities
of Italy—Raffael Maffei, Biondi, Alberti,
for instance—also took Faesuke for one
of the Twelve ; even Dempster (Etrur.
Reg. II. pp. 41, 73) held this opinion.
She was probably dependent on Vola-
terrae or Arretium.
Miiller (I. 3, 3) cites FsesuUe as an
instance of the quadrangular form,
which was usually given to Etruscan
cities, and thence copied in the original
city of Romulus—Soma qmdrata—a
custom built on religious usages. Dion.
Hal. I. p. 75. Plutarch, Romul. 10.
Festus, v. Quadrata. Solinus, Polyh.
cap. II. ef. Varro, Ling. Lat. V. 143.
Miiller, III. 6, 7.
5 Inghirami, Guida di Fiesole, p. 38.
It is said, that at each angle of the outer
square circuit, remains of a tower were
discovered, besides two larger ones in
the central inclosure; and the numerous
openings in these concentric walls gave
a faint idea of a labyrinth.
This inner line of wall is not of
frequent occurrence in Etruscan towns;
more common, however, in the northern
than southern district. The same may
be said of double heights, or cures, within
the city-walls, of which Fsesulse pre-
sents a specimen. The only instances
I remember in southern Etruria are at
Fidense and perhaps at Tarquinii ; but
this is explained by the level character
of that volcanic region.
6 On this height was discovered in
1814 the only instance known of the
favissce attached to temples (see the
Chapter on Rome) ; but after a few
months they were reclosed, and are no
longer to be seen. Inghir. loc. cit. p.
40. Miiller (Etrusk. IV. 2. S) who
cites Del Rosso (Giorn. Arcad. III. p.
113) describes them as " round cham-
bers lined with masonry and contract-
ing upwards "■—i.e., like the tholi of the
Greeks, the Treasuries of Atreus and
Minyas, and the lower prison of the
Tullianum at Rome.
125
fore, much inferior in size to certain other Etruscan cities—
Veii, Volaterrse, Agylla, Tarquinii, for instance. The highest
crest of the hill to the north-west, where the Franciscan
convent now stands, was originally the Arx; for here have
been found, at various times, traces of a triple concentric
wall, engirdling the height, all within the outer line of the
ancient fortifications.5 Nothing of the triple wall is now
to be seen. In the Church of S. Alessandro, on the same
height, are some columns of cipollino, which probably
belonged to a Roman temple on this spot.6
Though little of antiquity is to be seen on this height,
the visitor should not fail to ascend it for the sake of
its all-glorious view. No scene in Italy is better known,
or has been more often described, than that " from
on this account to rank it among the
Twelve. And so also Miiller, Etrusk.
II. 1, 2. But on tliis score, there are
other towns in Etruria which might
compete with it for that honour.
The early writers on the antiquities
of Italy—Raffael Maffei, Biondi, Alberti,
for instance—also took Faesuke for one
of the Twelve ; even Dempster (Etrur.
Reg. II. pp. 41, 73) held this opinion.
She was probably dependent on Vola-
terrae or Arretium.
Miiller (I. 3, 3) cites FsesuUe as an
instance of the quadrangular form,
which was usually given to Etruscan
cities, and thence copied in the original
city of Romulus—Soma qmdrata—a
custom built on religious usages. Dion.
Hal. I. p. 75. Plutarch, Romul. 10.
Festus, v. Quadrata. Solinus, Polyh.
cap. II. ef. Varro, Ling. Lat. V. 143.
Miiller, III. 6, 7.
5 Inghirami, Guida di Fiesole, p. 38.
It is said, that at each angle of the outer
square circuit, remains of a tower were
discovered, besides two larger ones in
the central inclosure; and the numerous
openings in these concentric walls gave
a faint idea of a labyrinth.
This inner line of wall is not of
frequent occurrence in Etruscan towns;
more common, however, in the northern
than southern district. The same may
be said of double heights, or cures, within
the city-walls, of which Fsesulse pre-
sents a specimen. The only instances
I remember in southern Etruria are at
Fidense and perhaps at Tarquinii ; but
this is explained by the level character
of that volcanic region.
6 On this height was discovered in
1814 the only instance known of the
favissce attached to temples (see the
Chapter on Rome) ; but after a few
months they were reclosed, and are no
longer to be seen. Inghir. loc. cit. p.
40. Miiller (Etrusk. IV. 2. S) who
cites Del Rosso (Giorn. Arcad. III. p.
113) describes them as " round cham-
bers lined with masonry and contract-
ing upwards "■—i.e., like the tholi of the
Greeks, the Treasuries of Atreus and
Minyas, and the lower prison of the
Tullianum at Rome.