OF ROMAN ARCHITECTURE.
THE Romans, through every period of their history, from the first inconsiderable efforts of their infant tribes, to the complete establishment of a most extensive em pire, were continually engaged in foreign or domestic wars. The principle of their government being at first of a popular cast, it was to military skill, and a simple but impressive eloquence, that their whole attention was devoted, and upon which their national character was formed. Until the state had reached the zenith of its glory, by subjecting all the nations, including Britain, to the west, Macedonia and a part of Persia to the cast, and the northern parts of Africa to the south, they pre served the utmost siinplicity of manners, remained in a great measure ignorant of what arc denominated the fine acts, and, of course, set no value upon, but rather de spised them. All to the north and west of Italy being in a barbarous and rude state, it was not until the Ro mans had extended their conquests over the colonies of Greece, Greece itself, and a part of Asia, that they had an opportunity of becoming acquainted with fine archi tecture, sculpture, and paintings. Plutarch relates, that Marcellus brought the spoils of Sicily, consisting, in part, of the most valuable statues and paintings of Syra cuse, on purpose to adorn his triumph, and ornament the city of Rome, which before his time had never known any curiosity of this kind ; and he adds, that Marcellus took merit to himself for being the first who taught the Romans to admire the exquisite performances of Greece.
But when the most formidable rival states had been destroyed or subjected, the wealth which all at once came into the possession of the Romans affected their manners ; and having not only the productions of Gre cian genius, but the artists themselves, within their power, the transition was into the extreme of luxury and splendour.
In Greece, the arts rose frorn small beginnings, from the unremitting efforts of rival states and artists ; they were, therefore, natives of the country, while the man ners of the inhabitants were polished, but natural : but to the Romans, who merely acquired them by power, they were emblems of superiority lavishly and indiscri minately employed. It was evidently under this impres
sion that the Romans greedily seized the Corinthian, be• ing the most gorgeous of the Greek orders, and em ployed it almost exclusively in all their public edifices and private dwellings.
But, even for some time after Marcellus had introdu ced specimens of Grecian art, and out of the spoils of Sicily built and embellished the Temple of Virtue and Honour, it does not appear that much impression had been made upon the Roman people ; and although, about forty years afterwards, at the triumphs which Paulus Emilius obtained for the conquest of Macedo nia, it is said the first day was scarcely sufficient to ex hibit the images, paintings, and colossal statues, carried in 250 chariots, (Plutarch,) yet it was not until after the return of Sylla from the Mithridatic war, (which was 120 years after the triumph of Marcellus,) that speci mens of fine buildings can be distinguished. It was only fifty years previous to this that an edifice of marble was first erected at Rome ; but, in the consulship of Quintius Catullus, it is said 100 marble temples were erected. Pompey erected a theatre, and Julius CRsar the temple of Apollo, the porticos, library, and mausoleum. Ionian Antiquities.
Front this period, the progress in luxury and extrava gance was rapid : In a few years, the villas of the prin cipal men (see Plate CLXI.) were extensive and high ly decorated : Those of Lucullus surpassed even eastern magnificence.
The magnificent and politic Augustus, confirmed in power, and with the command of unbounded wealth, exceeded his predecessors so far, as to boast, that he found Rome composed of brick, and changed it to mar ble. The following arc the principal edifices erected during his reign: The temple and forum of Mars the Avenger, the temple of Jupiter Tonans in the capitol, of Apollo Palatine, with public libraries, the portico and basilica of Caius and Luvitis, and the porticos of I.ivia and Octavia, (see Suet. c. 28.) ; and besides these, In the Year of Rome 720. The curia, schools, a noble portico round the temple of Jupiter and Juno, with a library ad joining.