DOI Kapitel:
Chap. V: Magnificence of Ancient Rome - its Cloacæ - Aqueducts - Viæ - Forums - Temples - Thermæ - Theatres - Instances of private Magnificence - Greatness, the Characteristic of Roman Taste at all times
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62268#0203
Ch. V.
THROUGH ITALY.
193
Another portico erected by this Emperor, was
called Ad Nationes, from the statues with which
it was furnished, representing· various nations
in their respective habits. It was perhaps still
more remarkable for a statue of Hercules, stand-
ing· neglected on the ground. That such a
divinity should remain thus neglected and dis-
honored is surprising ; but the reason of a con-
duct apparently so impious, is highly honorable
to Roman feeling. The statue thus degraded
had been brought from Carthage*, and was the
O O'
very one to which the Carthaginians were ac-
customed to offer human victims, “ Sacrum” as
Titus Livius remarks, “ minime Romanum.”
Turn medium claro surgebat marmore tenaplum,
Et patria Phoebo carius Ortygia.
Auro solis erat supra fastigia currus,
Et valvae Lybici nobile dentis opus ;
Altera dejectos Parnassi vertice Gallos,
Altera mcerebat funera Tantalidos.
Deinde inter matrem, Deus ipse, interque sororem
Pythius in longa carmina veste sonat.
Lib. ii. 31.
* See Pliny xxxv. 40. Inhonorus est nec in templo ullo
Hercules, ad quem Poni omnibus annis humanii sacrificave-
runt victim^, humistans ante aditum porticus ad nationis.
Lib. xxxvi.
VOL. III. O
THROUGH ITALY.
193
Another portico erected by this Emperor, was
called Ad Nationes, from the statues with which
it was furnished, representing· various nations
in their respective habits. It was perhaps still
more remarkable for a statue of Hercules, stand-
ing· neglected on the ground. That such a
divinity should remain thus neglected and dis-
honored is surprising ; but the reason of a con-
duct apparently so impious, is highly honorable
to Roman feeling. The statue thus degraded
had been brought from Carthage*, and was the
O O'
very one to which the Carthaginians were ac-
customed to offer human victims, “ Sacrum” as
Titus Livius remarks, “ minime Romanum.”
Turn medium claro surgebat marmore tenaplum,
Et patria Phoebo carius Ortygia.
Auro solis erat supra fastigia currus,
Et valvae Lybici nobile dentis opus ;
Altera dejectos Parnassi vertice Gallos,
Altera mcerebat funera Tantalidos.
Deinde inter matrem, Deus ipse, interque sororem
Pythius in longa carmina veste sonat.
Lib. ii. 31.
* See Pliny xxxv. 40. Inhonorus est nec in templo ullo
Hercules, ad quem Poni omnibus annis humanii sacrificave-
runt victim^, humistans ante aditum porticus ad nationis.
Lib. xxxvi.
VOL. III. O