DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42497#0112
6o
Primitive Fortifications.
[CHAP. I.
raised [portcullis?] to the height of seventy cubits [52ft. 6in.], and the breadth of
them was forty cubits [30 ft.], for the going forth of his mighty armies, and for the
setting in array of his footmen p. ”
The whole of this description might very well apply to the agger
and wall of Servius Tullius, and for the array of the footmen, it is
obvious that a level space would be required outside of the gate, or
in the pomoerium. It should be observed that Pliny mentions the
agger of Tarquinius Superbus as a wonderful work; perhaps by this
he means the outer agger, with the fortresses at each end, one of
which became the Praetorian Camp, the other the Sessorium. He
had just before mentioned the houses extending to the Prcetorian
Camps in the plural, and the great extent of the city as the largest
in the world, whereas the city of Servius Tullius was only of the
same size as Athens, and Pliny must have been well aware of this.
The seventy thousand paces which he reckons could not be con-
tained within the boundary of the old City, neither does the agger
of Servius Tullius enclose the whole of the eastern side as he
mentions. It does not enclose the Esquiline, but joins on to the
north-east angle of its cliffs. The outer agger does enclose the whole
eastern side of Rome, although there is reason to believe that it
was left unfinished at the north end, in consequence of the great
rebellion, as has been said.
Pliny says :—
“ Rome was enclosed on the east side, where it was for the most part of easy
access, by the agger of Tarquinius Superbus, which was among the greatest
wonders of the world, for it was of equal height with the walls ; the rest of these
fortifications being supported with high walls or steep hills or cliffs {abruptis
montibus).”
Other authors write as follows. Livy says :—
“He [Tarquinius] surrounded the city with trenches [paws], an agger, and
a wall, and pushed forward thepo-moeriumC
“ And the walls of the city, which had been constructed in haste and were
faulty in their workmanship, he, [Tarquinius,] resolved to rebuild with stones, each
a load for a cart, and squared by the ruler.”
“But one spot, which is the most assailable of the city, extending from the
Esquiline to the Colline gates, is rendered strong by art. For a ditch has been
dug before it, more than a hundred feet wide where narrowest, and thirty feet deep.
And a wall rises above the ditch continuous with a mound, so high and broad as
not to be shaken down by battering-rams, or overturned by undermining the foun-
dations. This place is about seven stadia in length and fifty feet in breadth s. ”
“The Romans then, having mustered and armed their forces, stationed them-
selves on the enceinte of the city, which was at that time of about the same extent as
p Judith i. 1—4. (Livii Hist., lib. i. c. 44.)
q “ Aggere et fossis et muro circum- r Dionys. Hal., lib. iii. p. 200.
dat urbem. Ita pomcerium profert.” s Ibid., lib. ix. p. 624.
Primitive Fortifications.
[CHAP. I.
raised [portcullis?] to the height of seventy cubits [52ft. 6in.], and the breadth of
them was forty cubits [30 ft.], for the going forth of his mighty armies, and for the
setting in array of his footmen p. ”
The whole of this description might very well apply to the agger
and wall of Servius Tullius, and for the array of the footmen, it is
obvious that a level space would be required outside of the gate, or
in the pomoerium. It should be observed that Pliny mentions the
agger of Tarquinius Superbus as a wonderful work; perhaps by this
he means the outer agger, with the fortresses at each end, one of
which became the Praetorian Camp, the other the Sessorium. He
had just before mentioned the houses extending to the Prcetorian
Camps in the plural, and the great extent of the city as the largest
in the world, whereas the city of Servius Tullius was only of the
same size as Athens, and Pliny must have been well aware of this.
The seventy thousand paces which he reckons could not be con-
tained within the boundary of the old City, neither does the agger
of Servius Tullius enclose the whole of the eastern side as he
mentions. It does not enclose the Esquiline, but joins on to the
north-east angle of its cliffs. The outer agger does enclose the whole
eastern side of Rome, although there is reason to believe that it
was left unfinished at the north end, in consequence of the great
rebellion, as has been said.
Pliny says :—
“ Rome was enclosed on the east side, where it was for the most part of easy
access, by the agger of Tarquinius Superbus, which was among the greatest
wonders of the world, for it was of equal height with the walls ; the rest of these
fortifications being supported with high walls or steep hills or cliffs {abruptis
montibus).”
Other authors write as follows. Livy says :—
“He [Tarquinius] surrounded the city with trenches [paws], an agger, and
a wall, and pushed forward thepo-moeriumC
“ And the walls of the city, which had been constructed in haste and were
faulty in their workmanship, he, [Tarquinius,] resolved to rebuild with stones, each
a load for a cart, and squared by the ruler.”
“But one spot, which is the most assailable of the city, extending from the
Esquiline to the Colline gates, is rendered strong by art. For a ditch has been
dug before it, more than a hundred feet wide where narrowest, and thirty feet deep.
And a wall rises above the ditch continuous with a mound, so high and broad as
not to be shaken down by battering-rams, or overturned by undermining the foun-
dations. This place is about seven stadia in length and fifty feet in breadth s. ”
“The Romans then, having mustered and armed their forces, stationed them-
selves on the enceinte of the city, which was at that time of about the same extent as
p Judith i. 1—4. (Livii Hist., lib. i. c. 44.)
q “ Aggere et fossis et muro circum- r Dionys. Hal., lib. iii. p. 200.
dat urbem. Ita pomcerium profert.” s Ibid., lib. ix. p. 624.