DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61387#0121
THE RUINS OF POMPEII.
69
length of the facade is about fifty-four feet. Between the last two co-
lumns at the western extremity, facing the Street of the Theatres, which here
runs into the Street of Isis, stands one of those little square fountains so
often found at Pompeii. It was supplied with water through the mask
sculptured on the stone which surmounts it. A wall behind the columns, at
a distance of fourteen or fifteen feet from them, formed a spacious vestibule.
On the face of this wall may be perceived the remains of six marble consoles,
intended probably to support busts. In the vestibule were found some articles
of gold and silver and an emerald ring. The wall, as will be seen in the
view, is pierced with two gateways, one being at about the centre of it, the
other on the left at the end. On passing one of these gates we find ourselves
in a large, open, triangular space, the left hand side of which is entirely, and
the right partially, occupied by a portico consisting altogether of about a
hundred columns of the Doric order. Remains of these columns, as of those
of the Propylaaum, still exist of greater or smaller height, one only being at
present entirely perfect. At the further extremity, on the edge of the hill
or plateau on which Pompeii stands, the portico is not continued. Here,
according to Mazois, there was formerly a wall built of squared stones about
thirty-six feet high; but it is now almost entirely hid by rubbish covered
with a rich vegetation, which reaches down to the road below. The longer or
eastern side of this triangular space was about four hundred and fifty feet in
length, and the other two between two hundred and fifty and three hundred.
The destination of the ample space thus enclosed has been a matter of
dispute. Some consider it to have been the Forum of ancient Pompeii,
others the Acropolis; but to the latter opinion may be objected the fact that
it lies not on the highest point of the city, the present Forum being still
higher. All that appears certain is, that, from the temple which stands in the
middle of it, and from the capability of closing the entrance, it may be in-
ferred that it was a sacred enclosure. The interior space, which is carefully
levelled, consists at present only of earth, but may anciently have been paved
with stone or marble. To the Greek temple, which stands in the middle of
it, sometimes called the Temple of Neptune, sometimes of Hercules, we have
already adverted above. One side of the podium on which it stood is
seen in the view, on the right in the middle distance, with the altars at its
extremity. The foreground on this side shows an unexcavated portion of the
town covered with rank vegetation. In the centre of the picture, also in the
middle distance, is seen part of the great theatre. Its two upper ranges are
69
length of the facade is about fifty-four feet. Between the last two co-
lumns at the western extremity, facing the Street of the Theatres, which here
runs into the Street of Isis, stands one of those little square fountains so
often found at Pompeii. It was supplied with water through the mask
sculptured on the stone which surmounts it. A wall behind the columns, at
a distance of fourteen or fifteen feet from them, formed a spacious vestibule.
On the face of this wall may be perceived the remains of six marble consoles,
intended probably to support busts. In the vestibule were found some articles
of gold and silver and an emerald ring. The wall, as will be seen in the
view, is pierced with two gateways, one being at about the centre of it, the
other on the left at the end. On passing one of these gates we find ourselves
in a large, open, triangular space, the left hand side of which is entirely, and
the right partially, occupied by a portico consisting altogether of about a
hundred columns of the Doric order. Remains of these columns, as of those
of the Propylaaum, still exist of greater or smaller height, one only being at
present entirely perfect. At the further extremity, on the edge of the hill
or plateau on which Pompeii stands, the portico is not continued. Here,
according to Mazois, there was formerly a wall built of squared stones about
thirty-six feet high; but it is now almost entirely hid by rubbish covered
with a rich vegetation, which reaches down to the road below. The longer or
eastern side of this triangular space was about four hundred and fifty feet in
length, and the other two between two hundred and fifty and three hundred.
The destination of the ample space thus enclosed has been a matter of
dispute. Some consider it to have been the Forum of ancient Pompeii,
others the Acropolis; but to the latter opinion may be objected the fact that
it lies not on the highest point of the city, the present Forum being still
higher. All that appears certain is, that, from the temple which stands in the
middle of it, and from the capability of closing the entrance, it may be in-
ferred that it was a sacred enclosure. The interior space, which is carefully
levelled, consists at present only of earth, but may anciently have been paved
with stone or marble. To the Greek temple, which stands in the middle of
it, sometimes called the Temple of Neptune, sometimes of Hercules, we have
already adverted above. One side of the podium on which it stood is
seen in the view, on the right in the middle distance, with the altars at its
extremity. The foreground on this side shows an unexcavated portion of the
town covered with rank vegetation. In the centre of the picture, also in the
middle distance, is seen part of the great theatre. Its two upper ranges are