DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42497#0079
SECT. III.]
The Palatine.
27
from the southern part by the wide and deep trench or foss. Excava-
tions made in 1869 and 1870 have brought to light remains of the
tufa walls and towers on both sides of the trench supporting vertical
cliffs, and at the west end of the arx there are other remainsc. The
wall on the north side is that now called the Wall of Romulus.
The traces of the ancient earth-works are an important part of the
evidence on this subject. We find in many of the excavations that
are made in Rome, the old pavement of the street at the depth of
from fifteen to twenty feet below the level of the soil, because they
were made at the bottom of the old fossa, or trenches. These old
pavements remain on all sides of the Palatine, and are left open in
several places.
1. Under the Arch of Janus, traditionally the starting-point of the
bull and the cow. 2. Under the church of S. Anastasia, in the
street called after Julius Caesar, who perhaps rebuilt the houses or
shops under the terrace there. This was part of the infamci nova via,
under the porticoes or arcades that supported the lower terrace of
the Palatine, on the side of the Circus Maximus, and it can be
traced all along that side to the sites of the Septizonium and the
Porta Capena. 3. Under the Arch of Constantine, and round the
Meta Sudans. 4. In the Forum Romanum also, at the same leveld
as the others.
The southern part of the Palatine, with the Velia and the Vela-
brum, formed the city of Romulus as distinct from his citadel.
The construction of the Wall of Romulus round his arx is of earlier
character than that of any other wall in Rome6.
The regular square surface of the Palatine, and its steep cliffs on
all sides, justifies its choice in preference to the larger Aventine,
which was also of greater extent than was required for the original
settlement, and would not so easily be fortified and defended.
“It was the design of Romulus to found a city upon the Palatine, both for
other reasons, and on account of the good luck of the place, which had been the
means of saving and rearing himself and his brother. But Remus desired to
found it on what is called from him Remuria. This is a spot suitable for
receiving a city, an eminence not far from the Tiber, and distant from Rome
about thirty stadia f. ”
c The form of this Arx is oblong, not
square; but the stones in the walls called
by Vitruvius Opus Quadratum are also
oblong, not square.
d The Italian Government are now
(1871) excavating the whole of the
Palatine Hill down to the level of
the old pavements, and there is every
probability that all these long-disputed
and doubtful questions will now be
settled beyond dispute.
e The construction of the walls of
Fiesoli, of Perugia, of Gabii, and of
Alba Longa (the small portion that re-
mains), is also identical with this of
Romulus.
f Dionys. Hal. Ant., i. 45.
The Palatine.
27
from the southern part by the wide and deep trench or foss. Excava-
tions made in 1869 and 1870 have brought to light remains of the
tufa walls and towers on both sides of the trench supporting vertical
cliffs, and at the west end of the arx there are other remainsc. The
wall on the north side is that now called the Wall of Romulus.
The traces of the ancient earth-works are an important part of the
evidence on this subject. We find in many of the excavations that
are made in Rome, the old pavement of the street at the depth of
from fifteen to twenty feet below the level of the soil, because they
were made at the bottom of the old fossa, or trenches. These old
pavements remain on all sides of the Palatine, and are left open in
several places.
1. Under the Arch of Janus, traditionally the starting-point of the
bull and the cow. 2. Under the church of S. Anastasia, in the
street called after Julius Caesar, who perhaps rebuilt the houses or
shops under the terrace there. This was part of the infamci nova via,
under the porticoes or arcades that supported the lower terrace of
the Palatine, on the side of the Circus Maximus, and it can be
traced all along that side to the sites of the Septizonium and the
Porta Capena. 3. Under the Arch of Constantine, and round the
Meta Sudans. 4. In the Forum Romanum also, at the same leveld
as the others.
The southern part of the Palatine, with the Velia and the Vela-
brum, formed the city of Romulus as distinct from his citadel.
The construction of the Wall of Romulus round his arx is of earlier
character than that of any other wall in Rome6.
The regular square surface of the Palatine, and its steep cliffs on
all sides, justifies its choice in preference to the larger Aventine,
which was also of greater extent than was required for the original
settlement, and would not so easily be fortified and defended.
“It was the design of Romulus to found a city upon the Palatine, both for
other reasons, and on account of the good luck of the place, which had been the
means of saving and rearing himself and his brother. But Remus desired to
found it on what is called from him Remuria. This is a spot suitable for
receiving a city, an eminence not far from the Tiber, and distant from Rome
about thirty stadia f. ”
c The form of this Arx is oblong, not
square; but the stones in the walls called
by Vitruvius Opus Quadratum are also
oblong, not square.
d The Italian Government are now
(1871) excavating the whole of the
Palatine Hill down to the level of
the old pavements, and there is every
probability that all these long-disputed
and doubtful questions will now be
settled beyond dispute.
e The construction of the walls of
Fiesoli, of Perugia, of Gabii, and of
Alba Longa (the small portion that re-
mains), is also identical with this of
Romulus.
f Dionys. Hal. Ant., i. 45.