DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61387#0093
THE RUINS OF POMPEII.
53
the street, called the Strada delle Ter me, or Street of the Baths, which
runs between them and the house of Pansa, we soon arrive at another which
cuts it at right angles. The portion of it on our left is the Strada di Mer-
curio, or Street of Mercury, so -called from a figure of Mercury in bas-
relief, stealing or bearing a purse, on one of the houses in it. It is a rather
long street, leading quite down to the town walls, some way to the east of
the gate of Herculaneum; it is straight, tolerably broad, and altogether one of
the handsomest streets in Pompeii. The houses that line its sides, or stand
in its immediate neighbourhood, are among the best in the town. The upper
end of it is spanned by a triumphal arch, on the top of which once stood a bronze
equestrian statue of Nero. It answered to another arch of the same descrip-
tion, which faces it at the entrance of the Forum. These arches have led to
the conjecture that it was the way of state into the city, and that formerly
there was at its termination a gate in the wall, which does r jt now appear.
The Street of Mercury is continued towards the Forum, by another
shorter, but rather broader, street, called the Street of the Forum, into
which it runs through the second triumphal arch. At the left, or north-
eastern corner of the street, stands a small temple, which must have been
pretty enough when perfect. It is identified, from inscriptions found in it,
to have been the Temple of Fortune, and is also connected in the same
manner with one M. Tullius, who erected it on his own ground, and with
his own money. There are no satisfactory means of connecting this person
VIEW OF THE TEMPT,E OF FORTUNE.
with the celebrated orator, M. Tullius Cicero. The cut annexed will give
an idea of it in its present ruined state.
Proceeding down this short broad street, and passing through the trium-
53
the street, called the Strada delle Ter me, or Street of the Baths, which
runs between them and the house of Pansa, we soon arrive at another which
cuts it at right angles. The portion of it on our left is the Strada di Mer-
curio, or Street of Mercury, so -called from a figure of Mercury in bas-
relief, stealing or bearing a purse, on one of the houses in it. It is a rather
long street, leading quite down to the town walls, some way to the east of
the gate of Herculaneum; it is straight, tolerably broad, and altogether one of
the handsomest streets in Pompeii. The houses that line its sides, or stand
in its immediate neighbourhood, are among the best in the town. The upper
end of it is spanned by a triumphal arch, on the top of which once stood a bronze
equestrian statue of Nero. It answered to another arch of the same descrip-
tion, which faces it at the entrance of the Forum. These arches have led to
the conjecture that it was the way of state into the city, and that formerly
there was at its termination a gate in the wall, which does r jt now appear.
The Street of Mercury is continued towards the Forum, by another
shorter, but rather broader, street, called the Street of the Forum, into
which it runs through the second triumphal arch. At the left, or north-
eastern corner of the street, stands a small temple, which must have been
pretty enough when perfect. It is identified, from inscriptions found in it,
to have been the Temple of Fortune, and is also connected in the same
manner with one M. Tullius, who erected it on his own ground, and with
his own money. There are no satisfactory means of connecting this person
VIEW OF THE TEMPT,E OF FORTUNE.
with the celebrated orator, M. Tullius Cicero. The cut annexed will give
an idea of it in its present ruined state.
Proceeding down this short broad street, and passing through the trium-