DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.44944#0272
222
FORUM AUGUSTUM
was surrounded by an enormous wall, which served the double purpose
of protecting it against fire and shutting off the view of the squalid
quarters of the city in the immediate neighbourhood. A considerable
part of this wall at the north-east end, and of both exedrae, has been
preserved. It was originally nearly 36 metres high, and was built of
large blocks of peperino in alternate courses of headers and stretchers,
with wooden dowels (see above), but no mortar. On the outside two
courses of travertine divided it into three sections. Travertine is also
used at other points of stress. In the part of the wall now standing is
one of the original arched gateways, Arco dei Pantani, through which
the modern Via Bonella passes, 6 metres above the ancient level (Ill. 25).
The inner surface of the wall was covered with marble and stucco. Whether
a colonnade and porticus surrounded the south part of the forum within
the wall is uncertain.
Each apse was separated from the forum area by a line of four pilasters
and six fluted columns of cipollino, 9.50 metres high, which supported
an entablature of white marble. In the curved wall of the apse were
two rows of rectangular niches, the lower about 2.50 metres and the
upper about 15, from the pavement. The wide wall-space (about
8.50 metres) between these two rows of niches, which appears to have
been bare of ornament other than the lining, was probably masked by
the entablature. About 5 metres above the upper row of niches ran a
cornice, and above this the wall rose again for a considerable height.
In each apse in the lower row were fourteen niches, not counting the large
one in the middle, and four between each apse and the temple, making
thirty-six in all. Whether there were more in the other portion of the
wall is not known. In the lower niches were the statues of the triumpha-
tores, and in the upper probably trophies. Between the niches were
marble pilasters.
The temple was octostyle, and peripteral except at the north-east
end, where it joined the forum wall (Petersen, Ara Pacis Augustae, Vienna
1902, 61 ff.1; BA 1911, 300 sqq.). Three of the columns with the archi-
trave are still standing. They are of white marble, fluted, 15.30 metres
high and 1.76 in diameter, with Corinthian capitals (for a restoration
of the capital, see Mem. Am. Acad. ii. pl. 2).2 It was thought that they
belonged to the restoration by Hadrian, and not to the structure of
Augustus. This theory has, however, now been abandoned by Fliilsen
and Fiechter (Toeb. i. 35-41 ; cf. 51), for we have neither record nor
traces of any restoration.3 The cella wall is of peperino, lined with
1 For the relief (formerly attributed to the Ara Pacis) in the Villa Medici, which has
often been supposed to represent the facade of this temple, see Meded. Nederland. Hist.
Inst. i. (1921), 101 ; Festschrift fur P. Arndt, 55, 56 ; SScR 69-71, 417.
2 And for the entasis, ib. iv. 122, 142.
3 Unless we attribute to Hadrian the smaller rectangular niche which was afterwards
placed inside the apse of the temple (Gnomon, iii. 58-60). Whether the podium was
decorated with bronze reliefs is now questioned (ib.).
FORUM AUGUSTUM
was surrounded by an enormous wall, which served the double purpose
of protecting it against fire and shutting off the view of the squalid
quarters of the city in the immediate neighbourhood. A considerable
part of this wall at the north-east end, and of both exedrae, has been
preserved. It was originally nearly 36 metres high, and was built of
large blocks of peperino in alternate courses of headers and stretchers,
with wooden dowels (see above), but no mortar. On the outside two
courses of travertine divided it into three sections. Travertine is also
used at other points of stress. In the part of the wall now standing is
one of the original arched gateways, Arco dei Pantani, through which
the modern Via Bonella passes, 6 metres above the ancient level (Ill. 25).
The inner surface of the wall was covered with marble and stucco. Whether
a colonnade and porticus surrounded the south part of the forum within
the wall is uncertain.
Each apse was separated from the forum area by a line of four pilasters
and six fluted columns of cipollino, 9.50 metres high, which supported
an entablature of white marble. In the curved wall of the apse were
two rows of rectangular niches, the lower about 2.50 metres and the
upper about 15, from the pavement. The wide wall-space (about
8.50 metres) between these two rows of niches, which appears to have
been bare of ornament other than the lining, was probably masked by
the entablature. About 5 metres above the upper row of niches ran a
cornice, and above this the wall rose again for a considerable height.
In each apse in the lower row were fourteen niches, not counting the large
one in the middle, and four between each apse and the temple, making
thirty-six in all. Whether there were more in the other portion of the
wall is not known. In the lower niches were the statues of the triumpha-
tores, and in the upper probably trophies. Between the niches were
marble pilasters.
The temple was octostyle, and peripteral except at the north-east
end, where it joined the forum wall (Petersen, Ara Pacis Augustae, Vienna
1902, 61 ff.1; BA 1911, 300 sqq.). Three of the columns with the archi-
trave are still standing. They are of white marble, fluted, 15.30 metres
high and 1.76 in diameter, with Corinthian capitals (for a restoration
of the capital, see Mem. Am. Acad. ii. pl. 2).2 It was thought that they
belonged to the restoration by Hadrian, and not to the structure of
Augustus. This theory has, however, now been abandoned by Fliilsen
and Fiechter (Toeb. i. 35-41 ; cf. 51), for we have neither record nor
traces of any restoration.3 The cella wall is of peperino, lined with
1 For the relief (formerly attributed to the Ara Pacis) in the Villa Medici, which has
often been supposed to represent the facade of this temple, see Meded. Nederland. Hist.
Inst. i. (1921), 101 ; Festschrift fur P. Arndt, 55, 56 ; SScR 69-71, 417.
2 And for the entasis, ib. iv. 122, 142.
3 Unless we attribute to Hadrian the smaller rectangular niche which was afterwards
placed inside the apse of the temple (Gnomon, iii. 58-60). Whether the podium was
decorated with bronze reliefs is now questioned (ib.).