DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.44944#0082
AREA CAPITOLINA
area was therefore in effect a built-up platform, part of which at least
was contemporaneous with the foundations of the temple. It was
enlarged in 388 b.c., and was regarded as a notable monument even at
the beginning of the empire (Liv. vi. 4. 11). The extent of the area has
been a matter of dispute, and some scholars have maintained that it
did not extend more than about 15-16 metres from the sides of the
temple (Richter, Beitrage zur rom. Top. ii. 24-25 ; Hermes, 1883, 115-118 ;
cf. Gilb. iii. 398-399 ; Aust in Roscher ii. 709), but the prevailing view
at present is that it covered practically all of the Capitolium (Hulsen,
Festschrift fur H. Kiepert 209-222 ; RE iii. 1534-1538 ; Rodocanachi,
Le Capitole romain 25-26). Remains of the walls of the substructures
have been found on the east side which prove that the area extended
in this direction about 35 metres from the temple. On the west it was
probably not more than 30 metres wide, and in front from 40 to 45.
Behind the temple there appears to have been only a narrow space, but
wide enough for the passage of a procession (Plin. NH viii. 161). Besides
the space occupied by the great temple, the area therefore contained
something more than one hectare of surface, sufficient for the other temples
and monuments that stood m Capitolio-—an expression ordinarily inter-
preted as equivalent to in area Capitolina.
The area was surrounded by a wall, and a porticus built in 159 b.c.
on the inner side of the wall (Veil. ii. I. 2, 3. 1). The principal entrance
was in the middle of the south-east side, opposite the front of the great
temple, where the clivus Capitolinus ended, and was sometimes referred
to as fores Capitolii (Suet. Aug. 94 ; App. BC i. 16 ; Tac. Hist. iii. 71).
A little south of this entrance, near the corner of the area, was the Porta
Pandana (q.v.), and there may have been others. The area was closed
at night and protected by dogs (Cic. pro Rose. Am. 56 ; Dionys. xiii. 7 ;
Gell. vi. 1. 6), under the charge of a janitor in whose house Domitian
took refuge from the Vitellians. This house was afterwards removed to
make room for the Shrine (q.v.) of Iuppiter Conservator (Tac. Hist,
iii. 74; Suet. Dom. 5; cf. CIL vi. 479=xiv. 32). Sacred geese were
also kept in the area (Dionys. Cic. locc. citt). Beneath the surface of
the area were subterranean passages called favissae, which were entered
from the cella of the great temple, and served as store-rooms for the
old statues that had fallen from its roof, and for various dedicatory gifts
(Fest. 88 ; Gell. ii. 10. 2 ; Gilb. ii. 419 ; Roscher ii. 710).
Within this area were the casa Romuli, the Curia calabra, the aedes
Tensarum, and the atrium Publicum; and a considerable number
of temples—of Fides, Iuppiter Feretrius, Iuppiter Custos, Iuppiter
Conservator, Iuppiter Tonans, Ops, Mars Ultor, Fortuna Primigenia,
and probably of Mens and Venus Erycina ; as well as of several altars
or shrines—the great altar of Jupiter (see Temple of Jupiter), of
Iuppiter Soter, Isis and Serapis, Bellona, Genius Populi Romani with
Felicitas and Venus Victrix, the gens Iulia, and perhaps Iuppiter Victor
area was therefore in effect a built-up platform, part of which at least
was contemporaneous with the foundations of the temple. It was
enlarged in 388 b.c., and was regarded as a notable monument even at
the beginning of the empire (Liv. vi. 4. 11). The extent of the area has
been a matter of dispute, and some scholars have maintained that it
did not extend more than about 15-16 metres from the sides of the
temple (Richter, Beitrage zur rom. Top. ii. 24-25 ; Hermes, 1883, 115-118 ;
cf. Gilb. iii. 398-399 ; Aust in Roscher ii. 709), but the prevailing view
at present is that it covered practically all of the Capitolium (Hulsen,
Festschrift fur H. Kiepert 209-222 ; RE iii. 1534-1538 ; Rodocanachi,
Le Capitole romain 25-26). Remains of the walls of the substructures
have been found on the east side which prove that the area extended
in this direction about 35 metres from the temple. On the west it was
probably not more than 30 metres wide, and in front from 40 to 45.
Behind the temple there appears to have been only a narrow space, but
wide enough for the passage of a procession (Plin. NH viii. 161). Besides
the space occupied by the great temple, the area therefore contained
something more than one hectare of surface, sufficient for the other temples
and monuments that stood m Capitolio-—an expression ordinarily inter-
preted as equivalent to in area Capitolina.
The area was surrounded by a wall, and a porticus built in 159 b.c.
on the inner side of the wall (Veil. ii. I. 2, 3. 1). The principal entrance
was in the middle of the south-east side, opposite the front of the great
temple, where the clivus Capitolinus ended, and was sometimes referred
to as fores Capitolii (Suet. Aug. 94 ; App. BC i. 16 ; Tac. Hist. iii. 71).
A little south of this entrance, near the corner of the area, was the Porta
Pandana (q.v.), and there may have been others. The area was closed
at night and protected by dogs (Cic. pro Rose. Am. 56 ; Dionys. xiii. 7 ;
Gell. vi. 1. 6), under the charge of a janitor in whose house Domitian
took refuge from the Vitellians. This house was afterwards removed to
make room for the Shrine (q.v.) of Iuppiter Conservator (Tac. Hist,
iii. 74; Suet. Dom. 5; cf. CIL vi. 479=xiv. 32). Sacred geese were
also kept in the area (Dionys. Cic. locc. citt). Beneath the surface of
the area were subterranean passages called favissae, which were entered
from the cella of the great temple, and served as store-rooms for the
old statues that had fallen from its roof, and for various dedicatory gifts
(Fest. 88 ; Gell. ii. 10. 2 ; Gilb. ii. 419 ; Roscher ii. 710).
Within this area were the casa Romuli, the Curia calabra, the aedes
Tensarum, and the atrium Publicum; and a considerable number
of temples—of Fides, Iuppiter Feretrius, Iuppiter Custos, Iuppiter
Conservator, Iuppiter Tonans, Ops, Mars Ultor, Fortuna Primigenia,
and probably of Mens and Venus Erycina ; as well as of several altars
or shrines—the great altar of Jupiter (see Temple of Jupiter), of
Iuppiter Soter, Isis and Serapis, Bellona, Genius Populi Romani with
Felicitas and Venus Victrix, the gens Iulia, and perhaps Iuppiter Victor