DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42497#0135
SECT. VIII.]
Gates of Servius Tullius.
*3
being the most fortunate of kings, [was supposed to] derive his glory from the
frequent visits of Fortuna through this window—or whether this is all fabulous—
and that the name of the place has its origin from the circumstance that when the
king, Tarquinius Priscus, was dead, Tanaquil, the wife of Servius, a virtuous and
loyal lady, put out her head from this window to address the citizens, and so urged
them that they elected Servius for their king.”
There being so many temples of Fortuna, they do not assist us in
determining the site, but it seems clear that this gate must have been
a postern to the palace on the Palatine, probably the same that is
now called Porta Romana, near the Regia or Royal palace. It had
therefore no place in the wall of Servius Tullius.
(13.) Porta Libitinensis, mentioned by Lampridius1, was a gate
probably in front of the Temple of Libitina, a goddess who presided
over funerals.
(14.) Porta Ferentina.—This gate is mentioned by Plutarch in
the Life of Romulus, though it seems like a misreading k.
“Indeed, after those murderers were given up and punished by both parties,
their calamities visibly abated ; and Romulus purified the city with lustrations,
which (they tell us) are yet celebrated at the Porta Ferentina'.”
In the gorge on the south side of the Ccelian, between S. Stefano
Rotondo and S. Maria in Domnica, there is evidently a very ancient
road in a foss-way belonging to the Primitive Fortifications. The
two springs under the south-west corner of the Ccelian, supposed
to have been those of the Camense and of Egeria, are very near this
spot, and may very probably come from a source in the hill above,
which has not been noticed, and may have been called the head of
the water of Ferentinae in the time of the Kings.
(15.) A gate near the “ Columnse Vipsanse” is mentioned by
Martialm, but from the context it must be the Porta Capena.
(16.) Porta Agonensis is, as has already been said, considered by
Festus to be the same as the Porta Collina.
1 “Galea ejus bis per portam Libi-
tinensem elata est.” (zEl. Lampridius,
in Vita Commodi Antonini, c. 16.)
k The passage in question refers to
certain cities being made tributary to
the “ Ferentine Gate.” It could only
be understood as meaning the com-
munity of priests who dwelt there.
1 Plutarch’s Life of Romulus.
m “ Qua vicina pluit Vipsanis Porta
Columnis.” (Martial, iv. 18.)
G 2
Gates of Servius Tullius.
*3
being the most fortunate of kings, [was supposed to] derive his glory from the
frequent visits of Fortuna through this window—or whether this is all fabulous—
and that the name of the place has its origin from the circumstance that when the
king, Tarquinius Priscus, was dead, Tanaquil, the wife of Servius, a virtuous and
loyal lady, put out her head from this window to address the citizens, and so urged
them that they elected Servius for their king.”
There being so many temples of Fortuna, they do not assist us in
determining the site, but it seems clear that this gate must have been
a postern to the palace on the Palatine, probably the same that is
now called Porta Romana, near the Regia or Royal palace. It had
therefore no place in the wall of Servius Tullius.
(13.) Porta Libitinensis, mentioned by Lampridius1, was a gate
probably in front of the Temple of Libitina, a goddess who presided
over funerals.
(14.) Porta Ferentina.—This gate is mentioned by Plutarch in
the Life of Romulus, though it seems like a misreading k.
“Indeed, after those murderers were given up and punished by both parties,
their calamities visibly abated ; and Romulus purified the city with lustrations,
which (they tell us) are yet celebrated at the Porta Ferentina'.”
In the gorge on the south side of the Ccelian, between S. Stefano
Rotondo and S. Maria in Domnica, there is evidently a very ancient
road in a foss-way belonging to the Primitive Fortifications. The
two springs under the south-west corner of the Ccelian, supposed
to have been those of the Camense and of Egeria, are very near this
spot, and may very probably come from a source in the hill above,
which has not been noticed, and may have been called the head of
the water of Ferentinae in the time of the Kings.
(15.) A gate near the “ Columnse Vipsanse” is mentioned by
Martialm, but from the context it must be the Porta Capena.
(16.) Porta Agonensis is, as has already been said, considered by
Festus to be the same as the Porta Collina.
1 “Galea ejus bis per portam Libi-
tinensem elata est.” (zEl. Lampridius,
in Vita Commodi Antonini, c. 16.)
k The passage in question refers to
certain cities being made tributary to
the “ Ferentine Gate.” It could only
be understood as meaning the com-
munity of priests who dwelt there.
1 Plutarch’s Life of Romulus.
m “ Qua vicina pluit Vipsanis Porta
Columnis.” (Martial, iv. 18.)
G 2