DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.44944#0486
4i 8
PORTA TRIGEMINA—PORTA TRIUMPHALIS
Porta Trigemina : an important gate, and one frequently mentioned in
ancient literature, in the Servian wall between the Aventine and the
Tiber, in Region XI (Not. ; Frontinus i. 5 ; Solin. i. 8 ; Dionys. i. 32. 2,
39. 4 ; de vir. ill. 65 ; Liv. xli. 27. 8). The exact site is a matter of
dispute, since the line of the wall has not yet been determined in this
quarter. Some place it below the present church of S. Sabina (LF 34 ;
Jord. i. 1. 235 ; Gilb. ii. 296) ; others about 40 metres south of S. Maria
in Cosmedin, where an arch of tufa, 3.30 metres wide, over a paved road,
was found in 1886 (NS 1886, 274 ; BC 1888, 20-22 ; Mel. 1909, 129-132 ;
AJA 1918, 175-176 ; TF 95, 96) ; and others still at the north corner of
the Aventine, near S. Anna dei Calzettari, about halfway between the
other two points (K.H i. ; Mitt. 1889, 260 ; for a presentation of all the
different views and their literature, see Merlin, 96-97, 125-126, and cf.
Murus Servii Tullii). The last of these theories is the most probable.
The name is best explained by supposing that the gate had three
openings, to accommodate the heavy traffic of this district and of the
Via Ostiensis (q.v.) (cf., however, Richter 46). Just outside it was a
favourite resort for beggars (Plaut. Capt. 90), and a statue of L. Minucius
(Liv. iv. 16. 2 ; vid. s.v.), which has led some to identify porta Trigemina
with Porta Minucia (q.v.) ; see also porticus extra portam Trigeminam.
A few inscriptions, on which the name of this gate occurs, have been found
(CIL vi. 9488, 9515,1 9618; for forged lamps with similar inscriptions,
see Mitt. 1892, 144).
Porta Triumphalis : * a gate through which a Roman general, who was
celebrating a triumph, passed at the beginning of his march. It is
mentioned in five passages (Cic. in Pis. 55 ; Tac. Ann. i. 8 ; Cass. Dio
lvi. 42 ; Suet. Aug. 100 ; Joseph. Bell. Iud. vii. 5. 4), but only the last
contains any topographical indications. These seem to point to a location
in the campus Martius, not far from the circus Flaminius and the villa
Publica. Four views have been held as to the character of this gate
and its site : (1) that it was a gate in the Servian wall between the porta
Flumentana and the porta Carmentalis (Nibby, Mura di Roma 1821,
132-134 ; Piale, Delle porte del monte Aventino e delle altre occidental!
di Roma, 1834, 19-27 ; LR 64) ; (2) that the circus Maximus abutted
on the city wall and that the porta Triumphalis was its principal entrance
at this point (Bunsen, Beschreibung der Stadt Rom i. 630-633; ii. 1.439-441;
Mel. 1909, 135-140) ; (3) that it was merely a name given to any gate
through which the victorious general entered the city, or to a temporary
arch erected at any point along the line of march (Morpurgo, BC 1908,
107-150) ; (4) that it was an arch or gate standing by itself in the campus
Martius, according to the indications of Josephus noted above (Becker,
Topogr. 149-154 ; HJ 495 ; Richter 124). This is the generally accepted
explanation at present. For a full discussion and citation of literature,
see Morpurgo op. cit. ; v. Domaszewski, AR 1909, 7°, 73; who thinks
1 This mentions a librarius ab extr(a) Porta Trigemina (CP 1914, 7θ)·
PORTA TRIGEMINA—PORTA TRIUMPHALIS
Porta Trigemina : an important gate, and one frequently mentioned in
ancient literature, in the Servian wall between the Aventine and the
Tiber, in Region XI (Not. ; Frontinus i. 5 ; Solin. i. 8 ; Dionys. i. 32. 2,
39. 4 ; de vir. ill. 65 ; Liv. xli. 27. 8). The exact site is a matter of
dispute, since the line of the wall has not yet been determined in this
quarter. Some place it below the present church of S. Sabina (LF 34 ;
Jord. i. 1. 235 ; Gilb. ii. 296) ; others about 40 metres south of S. Maria
in Cosmedin, where an arch of tufa, 3.30 metres wide, over a paved road,
was found in 1886 (NS 1886, 274 ; BC 1888, 20-22 ; Mel. 1909, 129-132 ;
AJA 1918, 175-176 ; TF 95, 96) ; and others still at the north corner of
the Aventine, near S. Anna dei Calzettari, about halfway between the
other two points (K.H i. ; Mitt. 1889, 260 ; for a presentation of all the
different views and their literature, see Merlin, 96-97, 125-126, and cf.
Murus Servii Tullii). The last of these theories is the most probable.
The name is best explained by supposing that the gate had three
openings, to accommodate the heavy traffic of this district and of the
Via Ostiensis (q.v.) (cf., however, Richter 46). Just outside it was a
favourite resort for beggars (Plaut. Capt. 90), and a statue of L. Minucius
(Liv. iv. 16. 2 ; vid. s.v.), which has led some to identify porta Trigemina
with Porta Minucia (q.v.) ; see also porticus extra portam Trigeminam.
A few inscriptions, on which the name of this gate occurs, have been found
(CIL vi. 9488, 9515,1 9618; for forged lamps with similar inscriptions,
see Mitt. 1892, 144).
Porta Triumphalis : * a gate through which a Roman general, who was
celebrating a triumph, passed at the beginning of his march. It is
mentioned in five passages (Cic. in Pis. 55 ; Tac. Ann. i. 8 ; Cass. Dio
lvi. 42 ; Suet. Aug. 100 ; Joseph. Bell. Iud. vii. 5. 4), but only the last
contains any topographical indications. These seem to point to a location
in the campus Martius, not far from the circus Flaminius and the villa
Publica. Four views have been held as to the character of this gate
and its site : (1) that it was a gate in the Servian wall between the porta
Flumentana and the porta Carmentalis (Nibby, Mura di Roma 1821,
132-134 ; Piale, Delle porte del monte Aventino e delle altre occidental!
di Roma, 1834, 19-27 ; LR 64) ; (2) that the circus Maximus abutted
on the city wall and that the porta Triumphalis was its principal entrance
at this point (Bunsen, Beschreibung der Stadt Rom i. 630-633; ii. 1.439-441;
Mel. 1909, 135-140) ; (3) that it was merely a name given to any gate
through which the victorious general entered the city, or to a temporary
arch erected at any point along the line of march (Morpurgo, BC 1908,
107-150) ; (4) that it was an arch or gate standing by itself in the campus
Martius, according to the indications of Josephus noted above (Becker,
Topogr. 149-154 ; HJ 495 ; Richter 124). This is the generally accepted
explanation at present. For a full discussion and citation of literature,
see Morpurgo op. cit. ; v. Domaszewski, AR 1909, 7°, 73; who thinks
1 This mentions a librarius ab extr(a) Porta Trigemina (CP 1914, 7θ)·