DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61894#0250
220 CLASSICAL TOUR Ch. VI.
the Via Appia, recrosses the river Almo (Lubri-
ais Almo) and re-enters by the Porta Capena.
Upon another day the traveller may go out by
the Porta Nomentana (now Pia) and proceeding
about a mile, visit the church of St. A^nes re-
o
markable for its antiquity (having been erected
by Constantine) for the double row of marble
pillars one above the other that support its roof,
and for the- porphyry and alabaster columns
which adorn its altar and its tabernacle. Its
form is the same as that of other churches of the
same era.
Near this edifice stands the church of St. Con-
stantia (the daughter of Constantine) formerly
her mausoleum, and supposed to have been at a
still earlier period, a temple of Bacchus. It is of
a circular form, supported by a row of coupled
columns and crowned with a dome. Behind the
pillars runs a gallery, the vaulted roof of which is
incrusted with ancient mosaics, representing little
genii playing with clusters of grapes amidst
the curling tendrils of the vine. I have spoken
elsewhere of the tomb of the saint, a vast porphyry
vase ornamented with various figures, and, ob-
served that as the body had been deposited many
years ago under the altar, the sarcophagus was
transported-to the museum of the Vatican.
the Via Appia, recrosses the river Almo (Lubri-
ais Almo) and re-enters by the Porta Capena.
Upon another day the traveller may go out by
the Porta Nomentana (now Pia) and proceeding
about a mile, visit the church of St. A^nes re-
o
markable for its antiquity (having been erected
by Constantine) for the double row of marble
pillars one above the other that support its roof,
and for the- porphyry and alabaster columns
which adorn its altar and its tabernacle. Its
form is the same as that of other churches of the
same era.
Near this edifice stands the church of St. Con-
stantia (the daughter of Constantine) formerly
her mausoleum, and supposed to have been at a
still earlier period, a temple of Bacchus. It is of
a circular form, supported by a row of coupled
columns and crowned with a dome. Behind the
pillars runs a gallery, the vaulted roof of which is
incrusted with ancient mosaics, representing little
genii playing with clusters of grapes amidst
the curling tendrils of the vine. I have spoken
elsewhere of the tomb of the saint, a vast porphyry
vase ornamented with various figures, and, ob-
served that as the body had been deposited many
years ago under the altar, the sarcophagus was
transported-to the museum of the Vatican.