Ancient Rome : from the earliest times down to 476 A. D.Pennell, Robert F.
History
Ancient Rome : from the earliest times down to 476 A. D.
Pennell, Robert F.
Rome -- History
Temples were numerous. The _Pantheon_ (temple of all the gods), built
by Agrippa and restored by Hadrian, was dedicated to Jupiter. It was
situated outside of the city, in the Campus Martius, and is now used as
a Christian church. The Temple of Apollo Palatinus, built by Augustus,
was on the Palatine Hill. It contained a library, which was founded by
Augustus. The Temple of Aesculapius was on an island in the Tiber; that
of Concordia, on the slope of the Capitoline Hill, was dedicated in
377 B.C., and restored by Tiberius. The Temple of Janus was an arched
passage east of the Forum, the gates of which were open during war. Up
to the time of Ovid the gates had been closed but three times, once in
Numa's reign, again at the close of the battle of Actium. Janus was
one of the oldest Latin divinities, and was represented with a face in
front and another on the back of his head. From him is named the month
of January.
(Illustration: ROME AND ENVIR.)
There were several temples of Jupiter, the most famous of which was that
of Jupiter Optimus, Maximus, or Capitolinus, built during the dynasty of
the Tarquins, and splendidly adorned. (See Chapter V.) There were also
numerous temples of Juno, of Mars, and of other deities.
The COLOSSEUM was the largest building in Rome.
There were three theatres; that of Pompey, of Marcellus, and of Balbus;
and several circuses, the most famous of which was the Circus Maximus.
The BASILICAE were halls of justice (court-houses). The most important
was the Basilica Julia, begun by Caesar and finished by Augustus, which
was situated on the south side of the Forum, and the foundations of
which can still be seen.
The CURIA, or Senate-house, was in the Forum. Each of the thirty curiae
had a place of meeting, called also a curia, where were discussed public
questions pertaining to politics, finance, or religion.
The PUBLIC BATHS were numerous. There were Thermae (hot baths) of Nero,
of Titus, of Trajan, of Caracalla, and of others, ruins of which still
exist.
Pure water was brought into the city from the surrounding hills by
fourteen different aqueducts, all of which were well built, and three of
which are still in use. The first aqueduct (Aqua Appia) was built about
313 B.C., by Appius Claudius.
SEWERS intersected Rome in all directions, and some were of immense
size. The CLOACA MAXIMA, built by Tarquin, was the largest, and is still
in use. Its innermost arch has a diameter of fourteen feet.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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