DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42497#0111
SECT. VII.] The Quirinal, Viminal, and Esquiline.
59
upon more of the wall built of large squared stones, very well con-
structed, with fine joints without lime mortar, but the stones were
held together by iron clamps. This was at once seen to be a part
of the wall of Servius Tullius, and it was ordered to be carefully
uncovered and not disturbed, and that every stone should be num-
bered at once, in a conspicuous manner, as it was uncovered, so
that it might be seen at once if any of them were removed. Subse-
quently this portion has been removed to enlarge the station, in
1870 and 1871. This excavation exposed to view the facing of
a stone wall against the outer face of a great bank of earth, to
support this earth and give strength to the whole construction, built
of large squared stones. Some authorities say that another common
mode of construction adopted by the ancient Romans in walling
their cities, was to have a spina or stone wall, in the middle of the
bank or vallum; while others say that there were frequently two
parallel walls filled with earth between them, and covered with earth
on the outside also °.
The accounts of this great agger in ancient authors are unusually
clear and distinct. We have already had occasion to mention the light
thrown upon the history of primitive fortifications, and with them on
that of architecture, and of the construction of walls, by the history of
the Jews, the earliest history we possess. The following’additional
extract is interesting and useful, as giving the measurement of the
stones used in building the wall of Ecbatane in Media; these walls
still exist, and it is probable that we shall soon have photographs of
them. Such walls, closely resembling the walls of the Kings in Rome,
can hardly be destroyed altogether; some of the upper stones may be
removed and used as foundations for other buildings, but it is only
in very recent times that such massive stones, and the paving-stones
of the time of the early Empire, have been broken up for macadam
stones to make the roads with.
“ In the twelfth year of the reign of Nabuchodonosor, who reigned in Nineve,
the great city ; in the days of Arphaxad, which reigned over the Medes in Ecba-
tane, and built in Ecbatane walls round about [the city] of stones, hewn three
cubits broad and six cubits long [2 ft. 3 in. wide, and 4 ft. 6 in. long], and made
the height of the wall seventy cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits [52 ft. 6 in.
high, and 37ft. 6 in. thick] : and set the towers thereof upon the [sides of the]
gates of it, an hundred cubits high [75 ft.], and the breadth thereof in the founda-
tions threescore cubits [45 ft.] : and he made the gates thereof, even gates that were
0 See “Military Architecture,” by appears to be of the latter character;
Viollet-le-Duc, p. 9. (Oxford, i860.) two walls are visible where the bank
The vallum on which the aqueduct of is cut through by the road made by
Nero stands, near the Porta Maggiore, Sixtus V. from S. Croce.
59
upon more of the wall built of large squared stones, very well con-
structed, with fine joints without lime mortar, but the stones were
held together by iron clamps. This was at once seen to be a part
of the wall of Servius Tullius, and it was ordered to be carefully
uncovered and not disturbed, and that every stone should be num-
bered at once, in a conspicuous manner, as it was uncovered, so
that it might be seen at once if any of them were removed. Subse-
quently this portion has been removed to enlarge the station, in
1870 and 1871. This excavation exposed to view the facing of
a stone wall against the outer face of a great bank of earth, to
support this earth and give strength to the whole construction, built
of large squared stones. Some authorities say that another common
mode of construction adopted by the ancient Romans in walling
their cities, was to have a spina or stone wall, in the middle of the
bank or vallum; while others say that there were frequently two
parallel walls filled with earth between them, and covered with earth
on the outside also °.
The accounts of this great agger in ancient authors are unusually
clear and distinct. We have already had occasion to mention the light
thrown upon the history of primitive fortifications, and with them on
that of architecture, and of the construction of walls, by the history of
the Jews, the earliest history we possess. The following’additional
extract is interesting and useful, as giving the measurement of the
stones used in building the wall of Ecbatane in Media; these walls
still exist, and it is probable that we shall soon have photographs of
them. Such walls, closely resembling the walls of the Kings in Rome,
can hardly be destroyed altogether; some of the upper stones may be
removed and used as foundations for other buildings, but it is only
in very recent times that such massive stones, and the paving-stones
of the time of the early Empire, have been broken up for macadam
stones to make the roads with.
“ In the twelfth year of the reign of Nabuchodonosor, who reigned in Nineve,
the great city ; in the days of Arphaxad, which reigned over the Medes in Ecba-
tane, and built in Ecbatane walls round about [the city] of stones, hewn three
cubits broad and six cubits long [2 ft. 3 in. wide, and 4 ft. 6 in. long], and made
the height of the wall seventy cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits [52 ft. 6 in.
high, and 37ft. 6 in. thick] : and set the towers thereof upon the [sides of the]
gates of it, an hundred cubits high [75 ft.], and the breadth thereof in the founda-
tions threescore cubits [45 ft.] : and he made the gates thereof, even gates that were
0 See “Military Architecture,” by appears to be of the latter character;
Viollet-le-Duc, p. 9. (Oxford, i860.) two walls are visible where the bank
The vallum on which the aqueduct of is cut through by the road made by
Nero stands, near the Porta Maggiore, Sixtus V. from S. Croce.