Besides those we have now described, there were many others, amongst the numerous temples at Rome, which were very magnificent, as the following dimensions will testify.
Although the Roman architecture differed widely, in many respects, from that of the Greek specimens we have adduced and referred to, yet it seems probable, that, from the time of the Nlacedonian conquest, the Greek style had gradually degenerated, and that they had intro duced this debased manner among the Romans, who ge nerally employed Greek artists, as we learn from the following reply of the Emperor Trajan to a request of Pliny the consul, to have an architect sent him from Rome to examine a bath at Claudiopolis, a city in Asia, situated near the foot of Mount Taurus. " I entirely leave it to you to advise the Claudiopolitani as you shall think proper with relation to their bath, which they have placed, it seems, in a very improper situation. As there is no province that is not furnished with men of skill and ingenuity, you cannot possibly want architects ; unless you think it the shortest way to procure them from Rome, when it is generally from Greece that they come to us." Letter xlix.
'Whether the Romans removed old columns from the Greek structures for their works at Rome, or employed workmen to quarry and prepare them in Attica, we can not distinctly make out from the following passage of Plutarch in his life of Publicola, where, speaking of the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus, which was rebuilt, for the fourth time, by Domitian, " The pillars are of Pentilic marble, and the thickness was in excellent proportion to their length, when we saw them at Athens; but when they were cut and polished anew at Rome, they gained not so much in the polish as they lost in proportion, for the beauty is injured by their appearing too slender for their height." But this might arise in some measure from Plutarch, who was a Greek, having been accustom ed to admire the proportions of the Greek Doric in their magnificent temples.
From the foregoing specimens and descriptions of Ro man temples, it will be evident, that they, in many re spects, differed widely from those of the Greeks. The great Temple of Peace was nearly of a square form ; itt it there were circular recesses, and a number of arched windows in the outside walls ; and the whole of the in terior was covered by bold and lofty yaultings ; those of the great middle aisle (77 feet 5 inches in width.) were groined arches. In the temple of Fortuna Virilis at Rome, the columns, excepting those of the entrance por tico, were attached to, and only projected half their di ameter from, the outside of the walls of the cell. In the Pantheon, instead of a square, a circular form was adopted, and the whole covered with one great spherical vault or dome. With the exception of the grand por tico, it had all the ornaments, recesses, and circu lar niches for the statues of the Gods, along the inside of the external walls, which left the whole interior space entirely clear. In the temples of Vesta at Rome ant; Tivoli, though circular, they were encompassed each with a row of Corinthian columns, and had their insides quite plain. In the circular temple of Faunus at Rome, the exterior of the main structure was encompassed by a lower one, consisting of an arcade, whose arches sprung immediately from the top of Corinthian columns. The interior of the central buikling was divided by a straight wall, having in its lower part an arcade similar to that before mentioned. The upper windows of the central building were not only arched, but each was divided by a small column, from which rose small arches included under the main arch, and having a circular perforation over them ; thus, in many respects, not only differing from the Greek, but affording the elements of Saxon and Gothic architecture.
We must rest satisfied with the foregoing specimens, selected from the numerous public buildings of the Ro mans, which were co-extensive with their empire, and shall next proceed to give sonic account of their private dwellings. The engraved specimen, Plate CLXI. is from Newton's Vitruviva, being considered the best authority ; but we shall precede even that by the description which Pliny the consul gives of his winter residence at Lauren tinum, which, being distinct and particular, will afford a perfect idea oldie villa of a wealthy but not extravagant Roman nobleman ; it was situated seventeen miles dis tant from Rome. "The landscape, on all sides, is ex tremely diversified ; the prospect in sonic places being confined by woods, in others extending over large and beautiful meadows, where numberless flocks of sheep and herds of cattle, which the severity of the winter has driven from the mountains, fatten in the vernal warmth of this rich pasturage. \ly 'illa is large enough to af ford all desirable accommodation, without being exten sive. The porch before it is plain, but not mean, through which you enter a portico in the form of the letter I), which includes a small but agreeable area. This affords a very commodious retreat in bad weather, not only as it is inclosed with windows, but particularly as it is aheitered by an extraordinary projection of roof. Front the middle of this portico you pass into an inward court ex tremely pleasant, and from thence into a handsome hall, which runs out towards the sea ; so that when there is a south-west wind, it is gently washed n ith the waves, which spend themselves at the foot of it. On every side of this hall there are either folding doors, or windows equally large, by which means you have a v few from the front and two sides, as it were, of three different seas ; from the back part you see the middle of the court, the portico, and area ; and by another view you look through the pm tico into the porch. from w hence the prospect is terminated by the woods and mountains which are seen at a distance. On the hit hand side of this hall, some what farther from the sea, lies a large drawing room, and beyond that a second of smaller size, which has one window to the rising and another to the setting sun ; this has likewise a prospect of the sea, but being at a greater distance, is less incommoded by it. The angle which the projection forms with this drawing room, retains and in creases the warmth of the sun; and hither my family re treat in winter to perform their exercises. It is shelter ed from all winds, except those which are generally at tended with clouds, so that nothing can render this place useless, but what, at the same time, destroys fair weather. Contiguous to this is a room, forming the segment of a circle, the windows of which are so placed as to receive the sun the whole day; in the walls are contained a set of cases, which contain a collection of such authors whose works can never be read too often. From hence you pass into a bed-chamber through a passage, which, being boarded and suspended, as it were, over a stove which runs underneath, tempers the heat, which it receives and conveys to all parts of this room. The remainder of this side of the house is appropriated to the use of my slaves and freedmen; but most of the apartments, how ever, are neat enough to receive any of my friends. In
the opposite wing is a room ornamented in a very elegant taste ; next to which lies another room, which, though large for a parlour, makes but a moderate dining-room. It is exceeding warm, and enlightened, not only by the direct rays of the sun, but by their reflection from the sea. Beyond is a bed-chamber, together with its anti chamber, the height of which renders it cool in summer: as its being sheltered on all sides from the winds, makes it warm in winter. To this apartment another of the same sort is joined by a common wall. From thence you enter into the grand and spacious cool ing room belonging to the bath ; from the opposite walls of which two round basons project, sufficiently large to swim in. Contiguous to this is the perfuming mom, then the sweating room, and next to that the fur nace, which conveys the heat to the baths. Adjoining are the two little bathing rooms, fitted up in an elegant rather than a costly manner. Annexed to this is a warm bath, of extraordinary workmanship, wherein one may swim, and have a prospect, at the same time, of the sea, together with the beautiful villas that stand interspersed upon the coast. At the other cud is a second turret, in which is a room that receives the rising and setting sun. Behind this is a large repository, near to which is a gal lery of curiosities, and underneath is a spacious dining room, where the roaring of the sea, even in a storm, is heard but faintly. It looks upon the garden, and ges tatio which surrounds the garden. The gestatio is en compassed with a box-tree hedge ; and, where that is decayed, with rosemary ; for the box, in those parts which are sheltered by the buildings, preserves the ver dure perfectly well ; but when, by an open situation, it lies exposed to the spray of the sea, though at a great cistance, it withers. Between the garden and this ges tatio runs a shady plantation of vines, the alley of which is so soft, that y ou may walk barefoot upon it without injury. The garden is chiefly planted with fig and mul berry trees, to which the soil is favourable, as it is averse from all others. In this place is a banqueting-room, which, though it stands remote from the sea, enjoys a prospect nothing inferior to that view. Two apart ments run round the back part of it, the windows where of look upon the entrance of the villa, and into a very pleasant kitchen garden. From hence an inclosed por tico extends, which, by its great length, you might sup pose erected for the use of the public. It has a range of windows on each side; but on that which looks to wards the sea, they are double the number of those next the garden. When the weather is fine and serene, these are all thrown open; but, if it blows, those on the side the wind sets arc shut, while the others remain inclosed without any inconvenience. Before this portico lies a terrace, perfumed with violets, and warmed by the reflection of the sun from the portico ; which, as it re tains the rays, so it keeps off the north-east wind ; and it is as warm on this side as it is cool on the opposite. In the same manner it proves a defence against the south west ; and thus, in short, by means of its several sides, breaks the force of the winds, from what point soevcr they blow. These are some of its winter advantages. They are still more considerable in summer ; for at that season it throws a shade upon the terrace during all the forenoon, as it defends the gestatio, and that part of the garden which lies contiguous to it, from the afternoon sun, and casts a greater or less shade, as the day either increases or decreases ; but the portico itself is then the coolest when the sun is most scorching, that is, when its rays fall directly upon the roof. To these its benefits I must not forget to add, that, by setting open the windows, the western breezes have a free draught, and by that means the inclosed air is prevented from stagnating. On the upper end of the terrace and portico stands a detached building in the garden, which I call my favourite ; and indeed it is particularly so, having erected it myself. It contains a very warm winter room, one side of which looks upon the terrace, the other has a view of the sea, and both lie exposed to the sun. Through the folding doors you see the opposite chamber, and from the win dows is a prospect of the inclosed portico. On that side next the sea, and opposite to the middle wall, stands a little elegant recess, which by means of glass doors and a curtain, is either laid open to the adjoining room, or separated from it. It contains a couch and two chairs. As you lie upon this couch, from the feet you have a prospect of the sea ; if you look behind, you see the neighbouring villas ; and from the head you have a view of the woods. These three views may be either seen distinctly from so many different windows in the room, or blended together in one confused prospect. Adjoining to this is a bed-chamber, which neither the voice of the servants, the murmuring of the sea, nor even the roaring of a tempest can reach ; not lightning, nor day itself, can penetrate it, unless you open the windows. This pro found tranquillity is occasioned by a passage which se parates the wall of the chamber from that of the garden; and thus, by means of that intervening space, every noise is precluded. Annexed to this is a small stove-room, which, by opening a little window, warms the bed-cham ber to the degree of heat required. Beyond this lies a chamber and antichamber, which enjoy the sun, though obliquely indeed, from the time it rises till the afternoon. When 1 retire to this garden apartment, I fancy myself a hundred miles from my own house, and take particular pleasure in it at the feast of the Saturnalia, when, by the licence of that season of festivity, every other part of my villa resounds with the mirth of my domestics; thus I neither interrupt their diversions, nor they my studies. Among the pleasures and conveniences of this situation, there is one disadvantage, and that is the want of a run ning stream; but this defect is in a great measure sup plied by wells, or rather I should call them fountains, for they rise very near the surface." To this we shall only add the general description of a villa, given by Vitruvius. " Those of the nobles who bear the honours of magistracy, and decide the affairs of the citizens, should have a princely vestibulum, lofty atrium, and ample peristylium, with groves, and exten sive ambulatories, besides libraries and basilicas, deco rated in a manner similar to the magnificence of public buildings, for in these places both public affairs and pri vate causes arc oftentimes determined." Again, " these rules also arc applicable not only to the city houses, but likewise to those of the country, except that in those of the city the atrium is usually near the gate, whereas in the country, pseudo urbana, the peristylium is the first, and then the atrium, having a paved porticus around, looking to the palcstra and ambulatories." (Newton's Vitrev. b. vi. chap. 8.) Sec Plate CLXI. The names being inserted in each apartment, renders the use of them apparent by inspection.