Mireellasseasa—The 31amortine and Tullien Prison, situated near the Capitol, and close to the Roman Forum, was built prior to the reign of Servitut Tullius, and enlarged by him. Part of the front, 45 feet long and IS feet high, is constructed with large blocks of tufa without cement; a part is also buried in the earth. Tha prison was divided Into two floors, and the round bole through which criminale were dropped into the lower prison still exists. There is a tradition that St. Peter was coufined in this prison by order of Nero. It under went some repairs A.D. 23 ; but there is no doubt that the building is of a much more ancient time. Tho masonry resembles that of the Treasury of Atreus at Myerento and the tombs of Tarquinii, and it was probably the work of ancient Etruscan workmen. The prison is now covered by the church of San Olnseppe, and is far below the level of the surrounding soil.
The Cloaca Maxima, constructed by Tarquinius Priscus about B.C. COO, is perhaps the most memorable work of ancient Roma. It was built to drain the mambas between the Palatine and Capitoline hills. The masonry Is of the same massive and durable character as that of the Mamertine Prison. It I. a tumid or arched sewer, 14 feet wide and feet high, constructed of vast blocks of volcanic atone put together without cement. Two parts of this great sewer only are visible, one near the arch of Janus Quadrifrans, opposite the church of San Giorgio in Velabro, and the other on the Tiber near the temple of Veatat, a little below the Pante Rotto.
The Praetorian Camp was built by Sellouts, in the reign of Tiberius, without the walls of Serrius, to the north-out of Rome, and dismantled by Constantine the Great, Three sides of the walled inclosure of a rectangular figure were joined by Honorinn to his new walls, and form a large rectangled recs.s on the plan of Rome. Tho site of the camp is now a vineyard.
The Meta Sudan. was a fountain placed st the point of junction of four ancient regions, and within a short distance of the Colosseum. It was reconstructed by Domitian in the form of cone, in the centre of a circular basin 80 Reiman feet in diameter. The water came out iu a jet from the top of the cone. The gladiators of the amphitheatre washed themselves at this fountain, which was repaired a few years ago.
The Portico of Octavia, built by Augustus, near the theatre of Marcel ine, as a place of refuge for the spectators in the theatre from a storm. The portico, which had been burnt, was restored by the emperors Septimius Severus and Caracalla. The ruin consists of one of the principal entrances only, which had two fronts each, adorned with fear Corinthian fluted columns of white marble and two pilasters, supporting an entablature and pediment. Several columns of Cipolino
and Caryatian marble are walled into the houses of the fish-market (Pescheria), in which the ruin is situated. A part of the portico is now used as a church.
The Niece of the Caesars, commenced by Augustus Caesar, on the site of the house of Hortensius, the orator, and bf Catiline. Augustus added to the original dwelling of Hortensius a temple dedicated to Apollo, with a portico of Numidian columns, and also a library. This palace was extended by Tiberius towards the Velabrum to the extre mity of the Palatine UHL • This part, in contradistinction to the Dooms Augustana, was called Demur( Tibcriana. It was increased towards the forum by Caligula, and united to the Capitol by a bridge, which was afterwards destroyed by Claudius. The Palatine not being sufficient for Nero, he extended the palace of the Coaars over the whole of the plain between it, the Cmlius, and the Esquiline, and a part even of the Esquiline itself, thus uniting the palace with the gardens of Novenas. This extensive palace having been destroyed by the great fire of Rome in the reign of Nero, it was rebuilt by him in a sumptuous style, and called the Domes Aurea, or Golden House. After having suffered many changes and mutilations during the reigns of successive emperors, it was much injured at the sacking of Rome by the Vandals. Yet lieraclius inhabited it in the 7th century, and in the time of Pope Constantine, in the beginning of the 8th century, the greater part of it was standing. Extensive remains of the sub. atructions and some of the corridors still exist, especially towards the Circus Maximus. The ruins of the palace of the Caesars stood in whet is now called tho Orti Farnesiani, and here may be recogoised the position of a part of the palace of Augustus, of that of Tiberius, of Caligula, and of Nero. The most extensive parts of the ruins are the foundations and basements which sustained the external porticoes, and the basements of the other parts of the palace, which from time to time was enlarged. On the higher part of the hill may be seen considerable remains of the famous Palatine Library, built by Augustus, and the magnificent Temple of Apollo connected with it, and built after the victory of Actium. Towards the Circus Maximus are the foundations of the theatre built by Caligula, in the palace which he joined to the front of the house of Augustus. Near the Temple of Apollo, but below it, there are two small chambers, called the Baths of Livia, which are very well preserved, and the painting and gilding are in good taste.