Parker, John Henry: The archaeology of Rome (1,text): I. The primitive fortifications (Oxford [u.a.], 1874)

Section V. The Aventine, [added a.u.c. 3°(?), b.c. 723 (?)]•
The Aventine Hill was protected on its north-western side by
the Tiber, with a narrow strip of land between the hill and the
river; on the north-east by the lake or marsh, on which the Circus
Maximus was afterwards made. On the south and west by the
scarped cliffs and a wall.
The south-eastern portion is separated from the main hill by
a valley and large foss, and is called the Pseudo-Aventine. On
this Pseudo-Aventine h stand the monastery of S. Sabba to the west
and S. Balbina to the east; and these occupy the sites of what
were no doubt the southern fortresses, which defended the ap-
proaches to the city by the Via Ostiensis, the Via Ardeatina, and
the Via Appia.
There are remains of the tufa walls of the Kings on the east and
north sides of this part of the Aventine. The west side is a scarped
cliff with the wall of Aurelian built up against it. The great foss
round these three sides is very visible, and the Porta Ostiensis or
S. Paolo, is made in this foss. On the south side the earth has been
thrown up against the cliff or over it, to make a slope to the sun
for the purpose of cultivation, and this line of distinction is nearly
obliterated.
The Aventine was taken possession of at a very early period in
the history of Rome, but as pasture ground only, and was at first
only slightly fortified s. It was much covered with wood, and was
celebrated for its laurel groves. Dionysius and Plinyk mention the
laurel groves, and that it was called Loretzim or Lauretum.
“First he [Ancus Martius] added considerably to the extent of the city by en-
closing within the walls what is called the Aventine. This is a hill of moderate
height full eighteen stadia in circuit, which then was covered with every kind
of wood, the most numerous and beautiful being the laurel,—for which reason
a certain part of it is called Lauretum by the Romans, but now it is quite full
of houses. There, along with many others, a temple of Diana is erected'. ”
Aulus Gellius speaks of it as without the pomoerium, even down
to his own time. It is evident that the original meaning of this

h This name is said to have been
given by Nibby to that part of the
Aventine Hill which is detached from
the rest by the wide and deep via-fossa,
through which runs the Via di Porta
S. Paolo. It is the name now com-

monly used, and is convenient.
' Numitor’s oxen were stationed on
the Aventine Hill. (Dionys. Halic.,
Ant., lib. ii. c. 79, 84.)
k Plin., Hist. Nat., lib. xv. cap. 40.
1 Dionys. Halic., Ant., lib. iii. c. 44.