DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.44944#0137
CAPITOLINUS MONS
97
Tib. 3; Gell. xvii. 21. 24; and freq.). On the other hand, the word
Capitolium was also employed to designate simply the temple of Jupiter
itself, as the most significant part of the whole (Cic. de orat. iii. 180 ;
Vitr. iii. 3. 5 ; Plin. NH vii. 182 ; Veil. ii. 3. 1 ; Tac. Hist. iii. 71 ; and
freq.). The adjective Capitolinus was of course derived from the noun,
and mons Capitolinus became a common name for the whole hill (ad Her.
iv. 43 ; Fest. 322 ; Solin. i. 12 ; iv. 13 ; Flor. Ep. i. 11, 13 ; Oros. ii. 19. 8 ;
Manil. iv. 28; Vib. Seq. geogr. min. 157 (Riese)) ; collis Capitolinus
(Liv. i. 12. I ; Mart. xii. 21. 6 ; Arnob. Nat. iv. 3 ; August, de civ. ii. 22 ;
iii. 8, 12 ; iv. 23). The depression between the two summits was called
Inter Duos Lucos (q.v.) or Asylum (q.v.), the latter name being explained
by the story that Romulus welcomed here the refugees from other towns
(Liv. i. 8). The precipitous cliff at the south-west corner of the
Capitolium, from which criminals convicted of capital offences were
hurled, was known from early times as saxum Tarpeium (Varro, LL v. 41)
or rupes Tarpeia (Tac. Hist. iii. 71), and both the whole hill and its southern
part were called Tarpeius Mons (q.v.), but the statement of the Roman
antiquarians that this was the original name of the hill is false. It was
also called Saturnius : cf. Varro, LL v. 42 (antiquum oppidum in hoc
fuisse Saturnia scribitur); Fest. 322; Solin. i. 13.
The principal approach to both summits of this hill was the Clivus
Capitolinus (q.v.), originally a path leading from the forum to the
depression between the summits, where it divided ; but the erection of the
Tabularium (q.v.) at the end of the republic, and of the mediaeval
buildings, destroyed all traces of earlier conditions on the ridge between
the elevations. There were also two flights of steps, the Centum Gradus
and (perhaps) the Gradus Monetae (qq.v.), which led to the top of the
hill from the forum side.
The Capitolium proper, or south summit, was occupied by the most
famous of all Roman temples, that of Iuppiter Optimus Maximus
Capitolinus (q.v.), and the Area Capitolina (q.v.) or space in which
this temple and others stood ; while on the north summit were the Arx
and temple of Iuno Moneta (q.v.).
During the first centuries of the republic, private dwellings were
erected to some extent on the hill, for in the year 390 b.c. there was a
guild of those who dwelt in Capitolio atque arce (Liv. v. 50) ; and after
the treason of Manlius, a law was passed which forbade any patrician
to live on either summit (Liv. vi. 20). In spite of such prohibitions, the
gradual destruction of the fortifications and the demands of a rapidly
increasing population led to continual encroachments upon this quasi-
sacred hill. In 93 b.c. a considerable tract, which had belonged to the
priests, was sold and came into private possession (Oros. v. 18 ; cf. also
Cic. pro Mil. 64). By the middle of the first century the whole hill, with
the exception of the area Capitolina, the actual sites of the temples, and
the steepest parts of the slopes, was occupied by private houses (Tac.
A.D.R.
G
97
Tib. 3; Gell. xvii. 21. 24; and freq.). On the other hand, the word
Capitolium was also employed to designate simply the temple of Jupiter
itself, as the most significant part of the whole (Cic. de orat. iii. 180 ;
Vitr. iii. 3. 5 ; Plin. NH vii. 182 ; Veil. ii. 3. 1 ; Tac. Hist. iii. 71 ; and
freq.). The adjective Capitolinus was of course derived from the noun,
and mons Capitolinus became a common name for the whole hill (ad Her.
iv. 43 ; Fest. 322 ; Solin. i. 12 ; iv. 13 ; Flor. Ep. i. 11, 13 ; Oros. ii. 19. 8 ;
Manil. iv. 28; Vib. Seq. geogr. min. 157 (Riese)) ; collis Capitolinus
(Liv. i. 12. I ; Mart. xii. 21. 6 ; Arnob. Nat. iv. 3 ; August, de civ. ii. 22 ;
iii. 8, 12 ; iv. 23). The depression between the two summits was called
Inter Duos Lucos (q.v.) or Asylum (q.v.), the latter name being explained
by the story that Romulus welcomed here the refugees from other towns
(Liv. i. 8). The precipitous cliff at the south-west corner of the
Capitolium, from which criminals convicted of capital offences were
hurled, was known from early times as saxum Tarpeium (Varro, LL v. 41)
or rupes Tarpeia (Tac. Hist. iii. 71), and both the whole hill and its southern
part were called Tarpeius Mons (q.v.), but the statement of the Roman
antiquarians that this was the original name of the hill is false. It was
also called Saturnius : cf. Varro, LL v. 42 (antiquum oppidum in hoc
fuisse Saturnia scribitur); Fest. 322; Solin. i. 13.
The principal approach to both summits of this hill was the Clivus
Capitolinus (q.v.), originally a path leading from the forum to the
depression between the summits, where it divided ; but the erection of the
Tabularium (q.v.) at the end of the republic, and of the mediaeval
buildings, destroyed all traces of earlier conditions on the ridge between
the elevations. There were also two flights of steps, the Centum Gradus
and (perhaps) the Gradus Monetae (qq.v.), which led to the top of the
hill from the forum side.
The Capitolium proper, or south summit, was occupied by the most
famous of all Roman temples, that of Iuppiter Optimus Maximus
Capitolinus (q.v.), and the Area Capitolina (q.v.) or space in which
this temple and others stood ; while on the north summit were the Arx
and temple of Iuno Moneta (q.v.).
During the first centuries of the republic, private dwellings were
erected to some extent on the hill, for in the year 390 b.c. there was a
guild of those who dwelt in Capitolio atque arce (Liv. v. 50) ; and after
the treason of Manlius, a law was passed which forbade any patrician
to live on either summit (Liv. vi. 20). In spite of such prohibitions, the
gradual destruction of the fortifications and the demands of a rapidly
increasing population led to continual encroachments upon this quasi-
sacred hill. In 93 b.c. a considerable tract, which had belonged to the
priests, was sold and came into private possession (Oros. v. 18 ; cf. also
Cic. pro Mil. 64). By the middle of the first century the whole hill, with
the exception of the area Capitolina, the actual sites of the temples, and
the steepest parts of the slopes, was occupied by private houses (Tac.
A.D.R.
G