DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.44944#0048
14
ANTRUM—’ΑΦΡΟΔΙΣΙΟΝ
(Hist. Aug. Salon. I ; Not. Reg. IV) and templum d. Pii (Hist. Aug.
Carac. 4). It is represented on coins of Faustina (Cohen 2 Faustina
senior, Nos. I, 64-71, 191-194, 253-255, 274).
In the seventh or eighth century this temple, apparently in good con-
dition, was converted into the church of S. Lorenzo in Miranda (Armellini 2
156-157; HCh 288), the floor of which is about 12 metres above the
ancient level. Excavations in front of the temple were undertaken in
1546 (LS ii. 193-196; JRS 1919, 183), 1810, 1876, 1885 (HJ 9), and in
1899 and following years (CR 1899, 186; 1902, 285; BC 1900, 62-63;
1902, 30-31 ; NS 1899, 77), when the whole eastern side was exposed
to view. It was hexastyle prostyle, with two columns on each side, besides
those at the corners, and pilasters in antis. The columns are of cipollino,
17 metres high and 1.45 in diameter at the base, with Corinthian capitals
of white marble, and support an entablature of white marble which probably
encircled the whole building. The existing remains consist of portions of
the cella wall of peperino, built into the walls of the church, extending
for 20 metres on the north-west and 15 on the south-east side ; the columns
of the pronaos, which stand free from the church with the exception of the
two nearest the antae ; the architrave and frieze of the fagade and sides
as far as the cella wall extends, but only a small part of the cornice ; and
the wide flight of steps leading down to the Sacra via, in the middle of
which are the remains of an altar. Some fragments of a colossal male
and female statue, and a few other pieces of sculpture, have been found.
The whole temple was covered with slabs of marble, which have dis-
appeared. The frieze on the sides of the temple was beautifully sculptured
in relief with garlands, sacrificial instruments and griffins, and on the
columns are numerous inscriptions and figures, some of which are Christian
and have been scratched as early as the fourth century a.d. (HJ 8-9, and
literature cited ; HC 220-222 ; Thedenat, 160, 273-274 ; D’Espouy, Monu-
ments, ii. 96-98 ; Fragments, i. 92 ; ii. 91, and especially Bartoli in Mon. L
xxiii. 947-974; DAP xv. 368; RE Suppl. iv. 485-7; SScR 247; HFP 36).
Antrum (Notitia) or Atrium (Curiosum) Cyclopis : mentioned only in the
Regionary Catalogue (Region I), was probably a grotto in the side of the
hill, above the Vallis Camenarum (q.v.). While it is not possible to decide
with certainty between these two readings, antrum is probably correct,
and this grotto may possibly be the antrum Volcani of Juvenal (i. 7).
The antrum Cyclopis gave its name to a vicus Cyclopis (CIL vi. 2226),
which may have extended south-west to the via Appia (HJ 208, 230 ;
RE iv. 1905).
Αφροδίσιον : apparently a shrine of Venus on the Palatine, mentioned only
once, under date of 193 a.d. (Cass. Dio lxxiv. 3. I : τον θάλαμον ev τω
Άφροθιστίω τω κατά το Παλάτζον οντι 7rape<TKevaaev. It is possible, but
not very probable, that the name Venus Palatina, given in jest to
L. Crassus (Plin. NH xxxvi. 7) may be based on the existence of this
shrine (HJ 46 ; Gilb. iii. 430).
ANTRUM—’ΑΦΡΟΔΙΣΙΟΝ
(Hist. Aug. Salon. I ; Not. Reg. IV) and templum d. Pii (Hist. Aug.
Carac. 4). It is represented on coins of Faustina (Cohen 2 Faustina
senior, Nos. I, 64-71, 191-194, 253-255, 274).
In the seventh or eighth century this temple, apparently in good con-
dition, was converted into the church of S. Lorenzo in Miranda (Armellini 2
156-157; HCh 288), the floor of which is about 12 metres above the
ancient level. Excavations in front of the temple were undertaken in
1546 (LS ii. 193-196; JRS 1919, 183), 1810, 1876, 1885 (HJ 9), and in
1899 and following years (CR 1899, 186; 1902, 285; BC 1900, 62-63;
1902, 30-31 ; NS 1899, 77), when the whole eastern side was exposed
to view. It was hexastyle prostyle, with two columns on each side, besides
those at the corners, and pilasters in antis. The columns are of cipollino,
17 metres high and 1.45 in diameter at the base, with Corinthian capitals
of white marble, and support an entablature of white marble which probably
encircled the whole building. The existing remains consist of portions of
the cella wall of peperino, built into the walls of the church, extending
for 20 metres on the north-west and 15 on the south-east side ; the columns
of the pronaos, which stand free from the church with the exception of the
two nearest the antae ; the architrave and frieze of the fagade and sides
as far as the cella wall extends, but only a small part of the cornice ; and
the wide flight of steps leading down to the Sacra via, in the middle of
which are the remains of an altar. Some fragments of a colossal male
and female statue, and a few other pieces of sculpture, have been found.
The whole temple was covered with slabs of marble, which have dis-
appeared. The frieze on the sides of the temple was beautifully sculptured
in relief with garlands, sacrificial instruments and griffins, and on the
columns are numerous inscriptions and figures, some of which are Christian
and have been scratched as early as the fourth century a.d. (HJ 8-9, and
literature cited ; HC 220-222 ; Thedenat, 160, 273-274 ; D’Espouy, Monu-
ments, ii. 96-98 ; Fragments, i. 92 ; ii. 91, and especially Bartoli in Mon. L
xxiii. 947-974; DAP xv. 368; RE Suppl. iv. 485-7; SScR 247; HFP 36).
Antrum (Notitia) or Atrium (Curiosum) Cyclopis : mentioned only in the
Regionary Catalogue (Region I), was probably a grotto in the side of the
hill, above the Vallis Camenarum (q.v.). While it is not possible to decide
with certainty between these two readings, antrum is probably correct,
and this grotto may possibly be the antrum Volcani of Juvenal (i. 7).
The antrum Cyclopis gave its name to a vicus Cyclopis (CIL vi. 2226),
which may have extended south-west to the via Appia (HJ 208, 230 ;
RE iv. 1905).
Αφροδίσιον : apparently a shrine of Venus on the Palatine, mentioned only
once, under date of 193 a.d. (Cass. Dio lxxiv. 3. I : τον θάλαμον ev τω
Άφροθιστίω τω κατά το Παλάτζον οντι 7rape<TKevaaev. It is possible, but
not very probable, that the name Venus Palatina, given in jest to
L. Crassus (Plin. NH xxxvi. 7) may be based on the existence of this
shrine (HJ 46 ; Gilb. iii. 430).