DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.44944#0410
350
MURUS MUSTELLINUS—MURUS SERVII TULLII
scanty historical evidence we possess, it is clear that originally the
wall was not more than 25 feet high, and that it has since been
heightened and the arcades added (see Richmond in Discovery vi.
(1925), 293-295, and in BC 1927, 41-67).
The walls as they now stand form one of the finest products of the
science of Roman fortification. They are built of concrete faced with
brick, are about 12 feet thick, and of varying height, the ground level
inside being generally considerably above that outside. 13 feet from
the ground inside they are traversed by a sentinel’s passage passing
through both curtain and towers, the latter occurring every 100 feet;
they are quadrangular, project about IO feet from the curtain, and
rise about 20 feet above the wall (Ill. 33). The gates have double or
single archways, according to their importance, with flanking towers,
and only some of them have vantage courts. The material used for the
walls was largely older brick (BC 1892, 91-93 ; PAS i. 1-86).
See Nibby and Gell, Mura di Roma (Rome 1820) ; Jord. i. I. 340-392 ;
BC 1892, 87-111 ; Richter 66-72 ; LR 68-87 > RE v. 1375· A valuable
description of the walls made by Nicolas Audebert in 1576 (Brit. Mus.
MS. Lansdowne 720) is published in Rev. Arch. 3. vi. (1885, ii.),
27-41); vii. (1886, i.), 124-138; 224-242; 336-340; viii. (1886, ii.),
3-39 ; 319-335 ; ix. (1887, i.), 54-58. See also the articles on the in-
dividual gates.
Murus Mustellinus : the probable reading in Festus 154 : Mutini Tutini
sacellum fuit in Veliis adversum murum mustellinum, but no explanation
of the epithet has been given (mustela — weasel).
Murus Ruptus : see Horti Aciliorum.
Murus Servii Tullii : * the wall ascribed by tradition (Liv. i. 44 ; Dionys.
iv. 13) to the sixth of the kings of Rome (ascriptions to Ancus Martius,
such as vir. ill. v. I, Flor. i. 1. 14 need not be taken into account; see
Jord. i. I. 201), perhaps in completion of work already begun by Tar-
quinius Priscus (Strabo v. 3. 7, p. 234 ; Liv. I. 36 ; Dionys. iii. 67).
There is considerable discord in the tradition as to which hills were
added to the city by which kings (see Pomerium) ; but the statement
that Servius Tullius added the Esquiline and the Viminal (Strabo cit.;
cf. Dionys. iv. 13) is consistent with the facts (Jord. ii. 206-208, cf.
figs. I, 3).
It is probable that the original settlements on the Palatine, Capitol,
Quirinal, etc., had no stone walls, but relied on natural features or
sometimes on earthworks, e.g. Murus Terreus Carinarum (q.v.).
There are remains of a wall in smallish blocks of grey tufa (cappellaccio)
at various points on the line of the later enceinte, which are usually (despite
the denial of Carter in Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc. xlviii. (1909), 136) assigned
to the original wall of Servius Tullius of the sixth century b.c. (Jord,
i. 1. 252-253).
MURUS MUSTELLINUS—MURUS SERVII TULLII
scanty historical evidence we possess, it is clear that originally the
wall was not more than 25 feet high, and that it has since been
heightened and the arcades added (see Richmond in Discovery vi.
(1925), 293-295, and in BC 1927, 41-67).
The walls as they now stand form one of the finest products of the
science of Roman fortification. They are built of concrete faced with
brick, are about 12 feet thick, and of varying height, the ground level
inside being generally considerably above that outside. 13 feet from
the ground inside they are traversed by a sentinel’s passage passing
through both curtain and towers, the latter occurring every 100 feet;
they are quadrangular, project about IO feet from the curtain, and
rise about 20 feet above the wall (Ill. 33). The gates have double or
single archways, according to their importance, with flanking towers,
and only some of them have vantage courts. The material used for the
walls was largely older brick (BC 1892, 91-93 ; PAS i. 1-86).
See Nibby and Gell, Mura di Roma (Rome 1820) ; Jord. i. I. 340-392 ;
BC 1892, 87-111 ; Richter 66-72 ; LR 68-87 > RE v. 1375· A valuable
description of the walls made by Nicolas Audebert in 1576 (Brit. Mus.
MS. Lansdowne 720) is published in Rev. Arch. 3. vi. (1885, ii.),
27-41); vii. (1886, i.), 124-138; 224-242; 336-340; viii. (1886, ii.),
3-39 ; 319-335 ; ix. (1887, i.), 54-58. See also the articles on the in-
dividual gates.
Murus Mustellinus : the probable reading in Festus 154 : Mutini Tutini
sacellum fuit in Veliis adversum murum mustellinum, but no explanation
of the epithet has been given (mustela — weasel).
Murus Ruptus : see Horti Aciliorum.
Murus Servii Tullii : * the wall ascribed by tradition (Liv. i. 44 ; Dionys.
iv. 13) to the sixth of the kings of Rome (ascriptions to Ancus Martius,
such as vir. ill. v. I, Flor. i. 1. 14 need not be taken into account; see
Jord. i. I. 201), perhaps in completion of work already begun by Tar-
quinius Priscus (Strabo v. 3. 7, p. 234 ; Liv. I. 36 ; Dionys. iii. 67).
There is considerable discord in the tradition as to which hills were
added to the city by which kings (see Pomerium) ; but the statement
that Servius Tullius added the Esquiline and the Viminal (Strabo cit.;
cf. Dionys. iv. 13) is consistent with the facts (Jord. ii. 206-208, cf.
figs. I, 3).
It is probable that the original settlements on the Palatine, Capitol,
Quirinal, etc., had no stone walls, but relied on natural features or
sometimes on earthworks, e.g. Murus Terreus Carinarum (q.v.).
There are remains of a wall in smallish blocks of grey tufa (cappellaccio)
at various points on the line of the later enceinte, which are usually (despite
the denial of Carter in Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc. xlviii. (1909), 136) assigned
to the original wall of Servius Tullius of the sixth century b.c. (Jord,
i. 1. 252-253).