DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.44944#0579
TABULARIUM
507
inscriptions, one copied by Signorili and Poggio (CIL i2. 737 =vi· I3I4) :
Q · Lutatius · Q · f · Q · n · Catulus · cos · substructionem et · tabularium ·
de · s · s ’ faciundum · coeravit · eidemque · probavit; and the other still
partially preserved in one of the rooms of the building (CIL i2. 736
= vi. 1313=31597) : Q · Lu]tatius · Q · f · Q · n · Cfatulus · cos · de · s]en ·
sent · faciundufm · coeravit .] eidemque · probfavit]. The second story
seems to have been added, or at least rebuilt, about the end of the first
century (see below), but nothing else is known of the history of the
building until the reign of Boniface VIII (about 1300 a.d.), when the
present tower at the north end was erected. Later, Michelangelo de-
stroyed the entire upper and western part, and built the present Palazzo
del Senatore directly upon the ancient structure (LS ii. 70).
This building, trapezoidal in shape, occupied all the space between
the clivus Capitolinus on the south-west and the flight of steps (gradus
Monetae?) which led up past the career to the arx on the north-east.
On the forum side the foundation wall began on the level of the area
Volcani, and the substructio (cf. inscription) consisted of this wall,
3.43 metres thick, with a series of six recesses out of which narrow windows
open, and a corridor between it and the tufa rock of the hill itself. This
corridor is now blocked at both ends and may always have been so.
Above this corridor of the substructio is the corridor of the first story
of the Tabularium proper, 5 metres wide and IO high, extending the
whole length of the building and originally open at both ends, but not
connected with any other part. Its front was an arcade of the Doric
order, with engaged columns of peperino. There were eleven arches,
7.50 metres in height and 3.54-3.60 in width, all but one of which have
been walled up. This arcade afforded the means of communication
between the two portions of the Capitoline, and formed a striking archi-
tectural terminus for the forum. Its effect, however, was greatly marred
by the erection of the temple of Vespasian and the porticus Deorum
Consentium, and by the enlargement of the temple of Concord. All of
the second story was removed by Michelangelo, but the few fragments
that have been found indicate an arcade of the Corinthian order immedi-
ately above that of the first story. These fragments are apparently of
the Flavian period, but it is impossible to say whether this story was an
addition or restoration.
Behind the corridor of the first story are supporting walls and piers,
and one large hall on a higher level than the corridor, which probably
opened out on the Asylum. From this hall a long flight of sixty-six
steps, partly cut in the rock, leads down to the ground through a fine
arched doorway in the wall of the substructure. These steps have no
connection with any other part of the building, and afforded direct
access from the forum to the upper part of the Tabularium and the
summit of the Capitoline. When the temple of Vespasian was built, its
podium effectually blocked the entrance to this staircase. On the
507
inscriptions, one copied by Signorili and Poggio (CIL i2. 737 =vi· I3I4) :
Q · Lutatius · Q · f · Q · n · Catulus · cos · substructionem et · tabularium ·
de · s · s ’ faciundum · coeravit · eidemque · probavit; and the other still
partially preserved in one of the rooms of the building (CIL i2. 736
= vi. 1313=31597) : Q · Lu]tatius · Q · f · Q · n · Cfatulus · cos · de · s]en ·
sent · faciundufm · coeravit .] eidemque · probfavit]. The second story
seems to have been added, or at least rebuilt, about the end of the first
century (see below), but nothing else is known of the history of the
building until the reign of Boniface VIII (about 1300 a.d.), when the
present tower at the north end was erected. Later, Michelangelo de-
stroyed the entire upper and western part, and built the present Palazzo
del Senatore directly upon the ancient structure (LS ii. 70).
This building, trapezoidal in shape, occupied all the space between
the clivus Capitolinus on the south-west and the flight of steps (gradus
Monetae?) which led up past the career to the arx on the north-east.
On the forum side the foundation wall began on the level of the area
Volcani, and the substructio (cf. inscription) consisted of this wall,
3.43 metres thick, with a series of six recesses out of which narrow windows
open, and a corridor between it and the tufa rock of the hill itself. This
corridor is now blocked at both ends and may always have been so.
Above this corridor of the substructio is the corridor of the first story
of the Tabularium proper, 5 metres wide and IO high, extending the
whole length of the building and originally open at both ends, but not
connected with any other part. Its front was an arcade of the Doric
order, with engaged columns of peperino. There were eleven arches,
7.50 metres in height and 3.54-3.60 in width, all but one of which have
been walled up. This arcade afforded the means of communication
between the two portions of the Capitoline, and formed a striking archi-
tectural terminus for the forum. Its effect, however, was greatly marred
by the erection of the temple of Vespasian and the porticus Deorum
Consentium, and by the enlargement of the temple of Concord. All of
the second story was removed by Michelangelo, but the few fragments
that have been found indicate an arcade of the Corinthian order immedi-
ately above that of the first story. These fragments are apparently of
the Flavian period, but it is impossible to say whether this story was an
addition or restoration.
Behind the corridor of the first story are supporting walls and piers,
and one large hall on a higher level than the corridor, which probably
opened out on the Asylum. From this hall a long flight of sixty-six
steps, partly cut in the rock, leads down to the ground through a fine
arched doorway in the wall of the substructure. These steps have no
connection with any other part of the building, and afforded direct
access from the forum to the upper part of the Tabularium and the
summit of the Capitoline. When the temple of Vespasian was built, its
podium effectually blocked the entrance to this staircase. On the