DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42497#0212
I 12
The Later Fortifications.
[CHAP. II.
the time of Pliny the old foss-way followed the lower level, and the
old gate or arch of Augustus alone, was standing across it.
“There seems to be a road passing due eastward from the Forum, and winding
towards the Porta Esquilina. It obtains several names in the course of its route.
After passing the gate it probably turned southward towards the church of
S. Bibiana. Its exact course seems at this point somewhat doubtful. Possibly
it passed to the Porta Tiburtina along the line of the aqueduct, some remains
of which exist on the left of the Via S. Bibiana. Its length may be reckoned
about ......... I mille 630 passus.”
VIII. The Porta Maggiore, which includes the two gates—the
Porta Preenestina and Labicana, has inscriptions upon it of the time
of Claudius, and is evidently a part of the arcade of his aqueduct1;
it therefore must have existed in the time of Pliny.
“ The road to this gate must have passed the Colosseum, and along the street
now called Via Labicana. The distance is . . .1 mille 980 passus.”
IX. The Porta Asinaria is a few yards to the west of the mo-
dern Porta S. Giovanni. The exterior of the present structure is of
the second or third century, but there was no doubt a gate there in
the time of Pliny. The arch or gateway is filled up nearly to the top,
but this arises from the raising of the ground on the inside, where it
is twenty feet higher than on the outside, the gateway having been
built on the level of the old road or foss-way. The interior in this
upper part has been rebuilt by Theodoric, the exterior has been much
repaired, and the arch filled up with a rough wall.
“After leaving the Colosseum, the road probably passed beneath the Coelian
Hill along the lower part of the Via de’ SS. Quattro Coronati, and then along the
Via di S. Giovanni Laterano. But in all probability the modern streets here do
not follow exactly the ancient line, having been thrown out by the alterations
of the Lateran in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Its distance is ap-
proximately ........ 1 mille 630 passus. ’
X. Porta Lateranensis.—The Lateran Gate still exists, though
walled up and the lower part hid by earth piled up against it on the
outside, which is planted as a vineyard. The eastern side of the
Lateran Palace projects very considerably beyond it, and is of dif-
ferent construction, the original parts being excellent lateritian brick-
work of the first century. Within the wall the Palace may be traced
as far as the modern firatra or monastery (one side of which is built
upon part of the old work), and nearly as far as the Baptistery. The
south wall and towers of the Palace form part of the fortifications for
a considerable extent; but the wall has been much mutilated and
badly repaired.
* See the Chapter on the Aqueducts, and Regio V.
The Later Fortifications.
[CHAP. II.
the time of Pliny the old foss-way followed the lower level, and the
old gate or arch of Augustus alone, was standing across it.
“There seems to be a road passing due eastward from the Forum, and winding
towards the Porta Esquilina. It obtains several names in the course of its route.
After passing the gate it probably turned southward towards the church of
S. Bibiana. Its exact course seems at this point somewhat doubtful. Possibly
it passed to the Porta Tiburtina along the line of the aqueduct, some remains
of which exist on the left of the Via S. Bibiana. Its length may be reckoned
about ......... I mille 630 passus.”
VIII. The Porta Maggiore, which includes the two gates—the
Porta Preenestina and Labicana, has inscriptions upon it of the time
of Claudius, and is evidently a part of the arcade of his aqueduct1;
it therefore must have existed in the time of Pliny.
“ The road to this gate must have passed the Colosseum, and along the street
now called Via Labicana. The distance is . . .1 mille 980 passus.”
IX. The Porta Asinaria is a few yards to the west of the mo-
dern Porta S. Giovanni. The exterior of the present structure is of
the second or third century, but there was no doubt a gate there in
the time of Pliny. The arch or gateway is filled up nearly to the top,
but this arises from the raising of the ground on the inside, where it
is twenty feet higher than on the outside, the gateway having been
built on the level of the old road or foss-way. The interior in this
upper part has been rebuilt by Theodoric, the exterior has been much
repaired, and the arch filled up with a rough wall.
“After leaving the Colosseum, the road probably passed beneath the Coelian
Hill along the lower part of the Via de’ SS. Quattro Coronati, and then along the
Via di S. Giovanni Laterano. But in all probability the modern streets here do
not follow exactly the ancient line, having been thrown out by the alterations
of the Lateran in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Its distance is ap-
proximately ........ 1 mille 630 passus. ’
X. Porta Lateranensis.—The Lateran Gate still exists, though
walled up and the lower part hid by earth piled up against it on the
outside, which is planted as a vineyard. The eastern side of the
Lateran Palace projects very considerably beyond it, and is of dif-
ferent construction, the original parts being excellent lateritian brick-
work of the first century. Within the wall the Palace may be traced
as far as the modern firatra or monastery (one side of which is built
upon part of the old work), and nearly as far as the Baptistery. The
south wall and towers of the Palace form part of the fortifications for
a considerable extent; but the wall has been much mutilated and
badly repaired.
* See the Chapter on the Aqueducts, and Regio V.