Parker, John Henry: The archaeology of Rome (1,2): Illustrations to I. The primitive fortifications. II. The walls and gates of Rome. III. The historical constructions of walls (Oxford [u.a.], 1874)

HILLS OF ROME.

The Aventine.

Plate XVII.
Scarped Cliff, with the Castle of the Savelli built upon the sum-
mit. This is on the side next the Tiber; the cliff is partly natural, but
has been scarped in places, and walls of the large squared stones of
the time of the Kings built up against it. There is a zigzag path
also down the slope from the castle (now the garden of the monks of
S. Sabina), leading originally to the Marmorata and the Porta Tri-
gemina, but the lower part of the path has been cut off to make room
for modern buildings. It is shewn in one of Piranesi’s engravings as
over the mouth of the Aqua Appia, which is in a cave under it; the
entrance to it is not quite visible in this view, being too far to the
right. This cave is also the one called after Picus and Faunus by
some antiquaries, and after Cacus by others. It is the only natural
cave known under the Aventine. There are wine-cellars and stone-
quarries excavated in different parts, but no other natural cave is
known. At the back of this is a natural reservoir of water of some
extent, supplied by a spring, and this pure water was added to that
of the Appia in the front part of this cave. The aqueduct of Trajan
also had its mouth nearly over this cave, at a considerably higher
level; and there is a vertical terra-cotta water-pipe descending from
it into the front part of this lower cave, as in other parts the later
aqueducts made use of the Appia, which was the lowest of all, to
carry off the surplus water. Some ancient building is visible to the
left of the view, which has been built on the slope, and vaulted, and
remains of the vaults are seen : this may have been connected with
the aqueduct of Trajan.