DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.44944#0164
122
CLIVUS BASSILLI—CLIVUS CAPITOLINUS
along the slope of the Capitoline hill, corresponding closely with the
modern Via di Marforio. Clivus Argentarius is found only in mediaeval
documents (Ordo Benedicti, p. 143 J Mirab. 24), but the name was
probably in use under the empire and derived from the shops of the
argentarii (see Basilica Argentaria). In the time of the republic it
seems to have been called Lautumiae (q.v. ; Jord. i. 2. 438 ; ii. 445, 634,
666).
Clivus Bassilli : a road, mentioned only once (CIL vi. 36364), that seems
to have branched off from the via Tiburtina in the area now occupied
by the cemetery of S. Lorenzo (PBS iii. 90 ; Mitt. 1891, 112).
Clivus Capitolinus :* the principal approach to the Arx and Capitolium.
This was originally a path, in effect a continuation of the Sacra via,
which led up by a steep ascent from the west corner of the forum to the
depression, Inter duos Lucos, where it divided. At the end of the regal
period the path to the depression, with the branch to the Capitolium, was
made into a road suitable for vehicles, and henceforth known as the
clivus Capitolinus (Liv. iii. 18. 7, 19. 7 ; Serv. Aen. ii. 116; viii. 319 ;
Plin. NH xix. 23 ; Veil. ii. 3. 2). In 174 b.c. it was paved by the censors,
Q. Fulvius Flaccus and A. Postumius Albinus, and a porticus was built
on the right side of the road from the temple of Saturn to the Capitolium
(Liv. xli. 27. 7 ; Tac. Hist. iii. 71). It is probable, however, that this
porticus did not extend below the depression in later times. In 190 b.c.
Scipio erected a decorative arch at the top of the clivus (Liv. xxxvii. 3).
This was the only means of access to the mons Capitolinus except
the flights of steps-—Centum Gradus, Gradus Monetae (?)—and afforded
a convenient place for commanding the forum with troops (Cic. pro Sest.
28 ; post red. 12 ; Phil. ii. 16, 19 ; ad Att. ii. 1. 7). Along part of it,
probably Inter duos Lucos, there were private houses (Cic. pro Mil. 64:
domus in clivo Capitolino scutis referta).
The clivus begins near the arch of Tiberius at the corner of the basilica
Iulia. Here some arches of the time of Sulla are preserved, which
supported it and a street branching from it (they have by some been
wrongly explained as the Rostra (q.v. ; cf. Mitt. 1902, 13-16 ; HC 71),
It then skirts the north front and the west side of the temple of Saturn,
making a sharp turn at the corner of the porticus deorum Consentium,
and ascends to the Asylum with an average gradient of 1 : 8. Part of the
back wall of the porticus serves as a foundation for the clivus, but its
upper course has been changed by more recent structures. Portions
of the lava pavement of the clivus still exist at various points near the
bottom of the ascent, including a small piece attributable to 174 b.c.
and another attributable to Sulla ; while that in front of the temple is
one of the best specimens of Augustan paving in Rome, having been
preserved by the erection upon it of the church of SS. Sergius and Bacchus
1 Mabillnn ; = Fabre-Duchesne, Liber Censuum, ii. 154, § 50.
CLIVUS BASSILLI—CLIVUS CAPITOLINUS
along the slope of the Capitoline hill, corresponding closely with the
modern Via di Marforio. Clivus Argentarius is found only in mediaeval
documents (Ordo Benedicti, p. 143 J Mirab. 24), but the name was
probably in use under the empire and derived from the shops of the
argentarii (see Basilica Argentaria). In the time of the republic it
seems to have been called Lautumiae (q.v. ; Jord. i. 2. 438 ; ii. 445, 634,
666).
Clivus Bassilli : a road, mentioned only once (CIL vi. 36364), that seems
to have branched off from the via Tiburtina in the area now occupied
by the cemetery of S. Lorenzo (PBS iii. 90 ; Mitt. 1891, 112).
Clivus Capitolinus :* the principal approach to the Arx and Capitolium.
This was originally a path, in effect a continuation of the Sacra via,
which led up by a steep ascent from the west corner of the forum to the
depression, Inter duos Lucos, where it divided. At the end of the regal
period the path to the depression, with the branch to the Capitolium, was
made into a road suitable for vehicles, and henceforth known as the
clivus Capitolinus (Liv. iii. 18. 7, 19. 7 ; Serv. Aen. ii. 116; viii. 319 ;
Plin. NH xix. 23 ; Veil. ii. 3. 2). In 174 b.c. it was paved by the censors,
Q. Fulvius Flaccus and A. Postumius Albinus, and a porticus was built
on the right side of the road from the temple of Saturn to the Capitolium
(Liv. xli. 27. 7 ; Tac. Hist. iii. 71). It is probable, however, that this
porticus did not extend below the depression in later times. In 190 b.c.
Scipio erected a decorative arch at the top of the clivus (Liv. xxxvii. 3).
This was the only means of access to the mons Capitolinus except
the flights of steps-—Centum Gradus, Gradus Monetae (?)—and afforded
a convenient place for commanding the forum with troops (Cic. pro Sest.
28 ; post red. 12 ; Phil. ii. 16, 19 ; ad Att. ii. 1. 7). Along part of it,
probably Inter duos Lucos, there were private houses (Cic. pro Mil. 64:
domus in clivo Capitolino scutis referta).
The clivus begins near the arch of Tiberius at the corner of the basilica
Iulia. Here some arches of the time of Sulla are preserved, which
supported it and a street branching from it (they have by some been
wrongly explained as the Rostra (q.v. ; cf. Mitt. 1902, 13-16 ; HC 71),
It then skirts the north front and the west side of the temple of Saturn,
making a sharp turn at the corner of the porticus deorum Consentium,
and ascends to the Asylum with an average gradient of 1 : 8. Part of the
back wall of the porticus serves as a foundation for the clivus, but its
upper course has been changed by more recent structures. Portions
of the lava pavement of the clivus still exist at various points near the
bottom of the ascent, including a small piece attributable to 174 b.c.
and another attributable to Sulla ; while that in front of the temple is
one of the best specimens of Augustan paving in Rome, having been
preserved by the erection upon it of the church of SS. Sergius and Bacchus
1 Mabillnn ; = Fabre-Duchesne, Liber Censuum, ii. 154, § 50.