Originally the city was a square mile in cir cumference. In the time of Pliny the walls were nearly twenty miles in circuit ; now, they, are from fourteen to fifteen miles round. Its original gates, three in number, had increased in the time of the elder Pliny to thirty-seven. Modern Rome has sixteen gates, some of which are, however, built up. Thirty-one great roads centered in Rome, which, issuing from the Forum, traversed Italy, ran through the provinces, and were termi nated only by the boundary of the empire. As a starting point a gilt pillar (Milliarium Aurcum) was set up by Augustus in the middle of the Forum. This curious monument, from which dis tances were reckoned, was discovered in 1823. Eight principal bridges led over the Tiber; of these three arc still relics. The four districts into which Rome was divided in early times, Augustus increased to fourteen.
(5) The Campus Martins. Large open spaces were set apart in the city, called Campi, for as semblies of the people and martial exercises, as well as for games. Of nineteen which are men dolled, the Campus Martins was the principal. It was near the Tiber, whence it was called Tiber inns. The epithet Martius was derived from the plain being consecrated to Mars, the god of war. In the later ages it was surrounded by several magnificent structures, and porticos were erectql, under which, in bad weather, the citizens could go through their usual exercises. It was also adorned with statues and arches.
(6) The Fora. The name of Fora was given to places where the people assembled for the transaction of business. The Fora were of two kinds—fora ;Natalia, 'markets;' fora 'law courts,' etc. Until the time of Julius Caesar there was but one of the latter kind, termed by way of distinction Forum Romanum, or simply Forum. It lay between the Capitoline and Palatine Hills; it was eight hundred feet wide, and adorned on all sides with porticos. shops and other edifices, on the erection of which large sums had been expended, and the appearance of which was very imposing, especially as it was much enhanced by numerous statues. In the center of the Forum was the plain called the Curtian Lake, where Cur tiss is said to have cast himself into a chasm or gulf, which closed on him, and so he saved his country. On one side were the elevated seats or suggestus, a sort of pulpit from which magis trates and orators addressed the people—usually called Rostra, because adorned with the beaks of ships which had been taken in a sea fight from the inhabitants of Antiusn.
(7) Cornitium and Capitol. Near by was the part of the Forum called the Comitium, where were held the assemblies of the people called Comitia Curiata. The celebrated temple, bearing
the name of Capitol (of which there remain only a few vestiges), stood on the Capitoline Hill, the highest of the seven; it was square in form, each side extending about two hundred feet, and the ascent to it was by a flight of one hundred steps. It was one of the oldest, largest, and grandest edifices in the city. Founded by Tarquinius Pris cus. it was several times enlarged and embel lished. Its gates were of brass, and it was adorned with costly gildings; whence it is termed 'golden' and 'glittering,' aurca. fulgens. It closed three structures, the temple of Jupiter Cap itolinus in the center, the temple of Minerva on the right, and the temple of Juno on the left. The Capitol also comprehended some minor temples or chapels, and the Casa Ronzuli, or cottage of Rom ulus, covered with straw. Near the ascent to the Capitol was the asylum. (See CITIES OF REFUGE.) (8) The Basilicm. We also mention the Fla silicze, since some of them were afterwards turned to the purposes of Christian worship. They were originally buildings of great splendor, being appro priated to meetings of the senate, and to judicial purposes. Here counsellors received their clients, and bankers transacted their business. The ear liest churches bearing the name of Basilic e were erected under Constantine. He gave his own palace on the Cxlian Hill as a site for a Christian temple.
(9) Churches and Other Structures. Next in antiquity was the church of St. Peter, on the Vati can Hill, built A. D. 324, on the site and with the ruins of temples consecrated to Apollo and Mars. It stood about twelve centuries, at the end of which it was superseded by the modern church bearing the same name. The Circi were buildings oblong in shape, used for public games, races, and beast tights. The Thcatra were edifices designed for dramatic exhibitions; the Amphitheatra (dou ble theatres, buildings in an oval form) served for gladiatorial shows and the fighting of Arild ani mals.
(10) The Coliseum. That which was erected by the Emperor Titus, and of which there still exists a splendid ruin, was called the Coliseum, from a colossal statue of Nero that stood near it. With an excess of luxury, perfumed liquids were conveyed in secret tubes round these immense structures, and diffused over the spectators, some times from the statues which adorned the interior. In this vast theater games of various sorts and gladiatorial shows were held, and within its arena many Christians, during the ages of persecution, fought with wild beasts, and many were slain for their faith.