At the east end of the Atrium is the fountain, beyond which is a step up on to a tesselated pavement, and from that four steps lead into the tabularium, or reception-room, having on each side three chambers, in which most probably the Vestals deposited those objects intrusted to their sacred keeping. On each side of the Atrium were the residential chambers of the High Vestals, the simple Virgins, and their domestics, two stories high. Those on the south side are best preserved. From the tesselated pavement a door gives access into a corridor, once paved with white and black mosaic; at the end, on the left, is a bath-chamber; and opening out from the corridor are several chambers showing traces of marble pavements, frescoed and marble-cased walls. In the second chamber are the remains of the mill for grinding the salt used in sacrifice. (See Virgil, "Buc." viii. 82; Horace, "O." iii. 23; Festus.) Pliny (xxxi. 41) says, "It is in our sacred rites more particularly that the high importance of salt is to be recognized, no offering ever being made unaccompanied by crushed salt." This corridor does not run the whole length of the Atrium, but turns off to a flight of stairs leading to the upper chambers. The remainder of the chambers on this side were reached direct from the Atrium by steps. The first one contains a hexagonal pedestal to Flavia Publicia. From the marble and fresco decorations found here, these rooms were most probably the apartment of the High Vestal Virgin. [Illustration] The inscriptions to the High Vestals found, date between 180 and 364 A.D., and were erected in return for some advantage derived from the patronage of the High Vestal. Historically they are of no great importance, giving us only names of Vestals that were already known. The most important inscriptions are those found here which do not refer to the Virgins. Commencing with the first pedestal at the top of the entry steps, they read as follows:-- Flavia Publicia. Erected July 9, 283 A.D. Concordiæ. Dedicated June 9, 364. She was the last High Vestal, and her name was erased because she became a Christian. Cœlia Claudiana. 253-7 A.D. Caracalla pedestal. July 2, 114 A.D. Prætextata Crassi. 180-200 A.D. Flavia Publicia. 257-284. Numisia Maximilla. 201-216. Statue of an unknown Vestal; no head. Flavia Publicia. 257-84. Another pedestal to her, with statue adjoining. Pedestal to Trentia Flavola. About 350. Blank pedestal, with statue of Ceres adjoining. Pedestal to Flavia Publicia. September 30, 257. Statue of Vettius Agorius Prætextatus. 380. Fragment of a seated statue. Statue unknown. Statue and pedestal to Flavia Publicia.