FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   >>  
seful vehicle instead of their more cumbrous RHEDA, not only for journeys where dispatch was required, but in solemn processions, and for ordinary purposes. They seem to have become the fashion, for Ovid tells us that these little carriages were driven by young ladies, themselves holding the reins, Amor. xi. 16. 49. [418] Suetonius flourished about seventy years after this, in the reign of Adrian, and derived many of the anecdotes which give interest to his history from cotemporary persons. See CLAUDIUS, c. xv. etc. [419] See TIBERIUS, c. xlvii. and AUGUSTUS, c. xxxi. [420] This aqueduct, commenced by Caligula and completed by Claudian, a truly imperial work, conveyed the waters of two streams to Rome, following the valley of the Anio from above Tivoli. The course of one of these rivulets was forty miles, and it was carried on arches, immediately after quitting its source, for a distance of three miles. The other, the Anio Novus, also began on arches, which continued for upwards of twelve miles. After this, both were conveyed under ground; but at the distance of six miles from the city, they were united, and carried upon arches all the rest of the way. This is the most perfect of all the ancient aqueducts; and it has been repaired, so as to convey the Acqua Felice, one of the three streams which now supply Rome. See CLAUDIUS, c. xx. [421] By Septa, Suetonius here means the huts or barracks of the pretorian camp, which was a permanent and fortified station. It stood to the east of the Viminal and Quirinal hills, between the present Porta Pia and S. Lorenzo, where there is a quadrangular projection in the city walls marking the site. The remains of the Amphitheatrum Castrense stand between the Porta Maggiore and S. Giovanni, formerly without the ancient walls, but now included in the line. It is all of brick, even the Corinthian pillars, and seems to have been but a rude structure, suited to the purpose for which it was built, the amusement of the soldiers, and gymnastic exercises. For this purpose they were used to construct temporary amphitheatres near the stations in the distant provinces, which were not built of stone or brick, but hollow circular spots dug in the ground, round which the spectators sat on the declivity, on ranges of seats cut in the sod. Many vestiges of this kind have been traced in Britain. [422] The Isthmus of Corinth; an enterprize which had formerly been attempted by De
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   >>  



Top keywords:

arches

 

purpose

 

distance

 
Suetonius
 

carried

 
streams
 

ancient

 

ground

 
conveyed
 
CLAUDIUS

quadrangular

 

present

 
Lorenzo
 
permanent
 
supply
 

Felice

 

repaired

 

convey

 

station

 
Viminal

fortified

 
projection
 

barracks

 

pretorian

 

Quirinal

 

included

 
spectators
 
declivity
 

ranges

 

provinces


hollow

 

circular

 

enterprize

 

attempted

 

Corinth

 

Isthmus

 

vestiges

 
traced
 

Britain

 

distant


stations
 

Corinthian

 
pillars
 
Giovanni
 
Maggiore
 

remains

 

Amphitheatrum

 
Castrense
 
construct
 

temporary