Jovinian: A Story of the Early Days of Papal RomeKingston, William Henry Giles
History
Jovinian: A Story of the Early Days of Papal Rome
Kingston, William Henry Giles
Church history -- Primitive and early church, ca. 30-600 -- Fiction
lower level, nearer the Forum, rose the temple of Saturn, its pediment
surmounted with figures of Tritons blowing horns. In front of it was
the Milliarium Aureum, or gilded milestone, set up by Augustus as a
standard for distances within the walls. Behind it lay another small
temple--that of Ops; and visible from the Forum, on the eastern face of
the hill, was the ill-famed Tarpeian Rock, whence criminals condemned to
death were wont to be precipitated. At the upper end of the Forum,
under the Capitoline Hill, was the Comitium, adorned with fresco
paintings, and covered with numerous statues surrounding the tribunals
of the Praetor Urbanus. Here also was the sacred fig-tree, the Ficus
Ruminalis, under which Romulus and Remus were nursed by the wolf, so the
populace believed. On the south-western extremity of the Forum was the
Basilica Julia, and not far off the still more magnificent temple of
Castor, from its position on a lofty terrace visible on all sides.
Farther on, at no great distance from the arch of Severus, in front of
the Curia, was another celebrated temple, the last we shall mention, of
bronze--that of Janus Bifrons, the two-faced deity, the index of peace
or war. Many more buildings surrounding the Forum might be mentioned,--
the Aedes Vesta, encircled by a grove, near the temple of Castor, and
the column of Phocas,--while to the north was the Forum Augusti, with
its Curia. A fine road between the Capitoline and Quirinal Hills led
into the Campus Martius, through the splendid Forum of Trajan. Numerous
other temples of equal grandeur were visible, the porticoes, or chief
entrances, looking, whenever possible, westward, which side was at the
same time faced by the divinity within, so that persons offering prayers
or sacrifices at the altar looked towards the east; the eastward
position being considered of the greatest importance by the
superstitious idolaters of old. The custom, originating among the
worshippers of the Sun, who were wont to watch for the appearance of
their divinity above the horizon, had been generally imitated by the
heathen world, though the source whence it had been derived was
forgotten. When it was impracticable to build a temple in the favourite
position, it was placed, like that of Jupiter Maximus, in such a manner
that the greater portion of the city could be seen from it; and when
erected by the side of a street or road, it was always so situated that
the passers-by might look in to salute the divinity, to obtain a
sprinkling of holy-water, and to leave their votive offerings in the
eager hands of the watchful flamens.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account