Gell, William; Gandy, John P. : Pompeiana: the topography, edifices and ornaments of Pompeii (Band 1) (London, 1824)

126 POMPEIANA.

the outer and inner edge of the rampart:
they formed, in appearance, a double line
of defence to the town; that nearest the
city being some feet higher than the outer.
They were built of large stones, about two
feet six inches thick: to each battlement
a shoulder returned inwards, affording an
additional security to the defender1. This
double wall admitting a wide rampart, is
considered by Vitruvius much superior to
the ordinary mode, where a single one
only was used ~. Of the latter description
seems to have been that on the south side
of Pompeii.

The outer wall of the towers appears
invariably to have fallen. It may be con-
jectured, while history is silent as to the

the walls never make a decided angle ; a principle laid down
by Vitruvius, who, Lib. I. 5. considers angles to favour con-
siderably the assailants. Urbes ab Orbes.—Festus:

1 Sometimes in Greece a connecting course runs over
the whole battlements, making their appearance like openings
for windows.

4 This rampart obviated the necessity for the frequent
recurrence of towers.