2 CARCER TULLIANUM

3 the ancient sources, such as Pliny [Plin, Nat. Hist .VII, 212], who de- scribe him west of the Curia and close to Temple of Concordia. What remains today of the entire complex is the smallest part, per- haps the most internal one, while the rest of the construction is no longer visible.

The excavations carried out at the end of the XX century, performed by the Soprintendenza of , have allowed us to investigate FIGURE 1: PART OF THE ROMAN FO- more deeply the complex and to RUM WITH THE EVIDENCE OF THE add new archaeological data. POSITION OF CARCER (COARELLI) Among the new findings, we re- port the discovery of sections of The complex is located, going walls (in square work) belonging from the to the left to the defensive circuit of the Ser- of the road leading to the Clivius vian Wall, that was erected during Argentarius , just after the stairs the king age and was restored that led Gemoniae all' (Figure and enlarged after 390 B.C., the 1 No.4); this area was part of the year in which the Gauls sacked , a sector in which was and burned Rome. The finding on concentrated the administrative this side of the , and judicial work, as also reminds which is an indication that the us Vitruvius in De Architectura acropolis was also equipped with "Aerarium, carcer, curia hole coni- own walls, identified below the ungenda sunt, sed ita uti magni- first royal walls, with remains of tude symmetriae hole responde- red tuff and Capitol tuff, dating ant eorum " [Vitr. De Arc. V-1, 2) perhaps at proto-archaic age (VIII Today the complex is visible be- -VII century B.C.). low the church of St. Joseph of The complex consists of four the Carpenters and is the only overlapping circles [Figure 2]: the building, together with the Curia, church, the chapel of the crucifix who remained of the ancient com- and the two structures under- plex political and judiciary; the ground: the carcer (No.3) and the identification is certain, thanks to Tullianum (No.4).

4 Tullianum

The Tullianum is a room shaped in three-quarters of a circle, made in a square blocks of lava stone. The stairway, descending from Carcer , was opened in modern times, in part by cutting the curved wall, built in square blocks arranged in rows that shrink pro- gressively upwards; the changes, that took place, are related to the presence on the southwest side of the altar dedicated in 1842 to the Apostles Peter and Paul, while the floor, made of bricks arranged in a herringbone pattern, jut out the ring of the well that collect the water of the spring. On the other hand, the NW coverage, once a low arch is formed by irregular blocks and fragments of tuff, sticked together with iron clamps and interspersed with bricks; the FIGURE 2: SECTION OF THE COM- PLEX, 1. CHURCH OF S. JOSEPH OF circular opening constitutes the THE CARPENTERS , 2. CHAPEL OF SS. point of connection with the over- CRUCIFIED, 3. CARCER, 4. TULLIANUM lying Carcer . It is to be noted a (FROM THE SITE OF SOPRINTENDEN- layer of various materials bonded ZA OF ROME). with mortar of different thickness, that stands over the cover on the tences of prisoners; we remember curved wall, a sign that the two Erennio Siculus, friend of Gaius structures were built at different Gracchus in 123 B.C., Jugurtha, times. King of Numidia in 104 B.C., Len- The Tullianum is mentioned by tulus and Cetego , companions of many ancient authors such as Catiline in 60 B.C. and Vercinget- , Sallust and Calpurnius Flac- orix, King of the Gauls in 46 B.C. cus , who pointed out not only the The building is attributed to Anco location, but also the fact that it Marcio with subsequent renova- was the place of the death sen- tions by Servius Tullius and the

5 ancient sources, that lead to con- not exist in the Roman world); or firm these hypotheses, are both in as a circular tank uncovered to Livy [ Ab Urbe Condita "I, 33" ... protect a spring (Tullus) which within a population so large, came probably came out from a fountain difficult to distinguish good from on the external side towards the evil, and as a result of the prolifer- Forum, similar to Greek o in the ation of crime in the shadows. So archaic period. to deter the increasing lawless- Confirming this archaic function ness, a prison was built in the city are primarily the permanence of center, close to the Forum. "] And spring inside the structure, even Varro [" De Language ", when there was a change of use, Book V, XXXII, 11" (Then there is) which establishes a kind of sa- the Arx, which is the most defen- credness attached to it, and sec- sible place in the city and where ondly, the presence of a drainage they can be easily spotted ene- ditch that drained the water in the mies. The prison is located under- nearby . On the ground and has a place where function of the tank had already you can not get out, the Tullia- talked Borsari at the end of the num, the most interior part, which XIX century. was added by King Servius Tul- Coarelli although emphasizes an lius. “]. immediate function of prison, The function of this room was dif- while other archaeologist, basing ferently interpreted over time, as a on the fact that they have not "jail" for the death sentences it is found significant traces of lime- spoken widely in the ancient stone on the walls of the duct, sources (you must remember that leading to suppose that instead of the imprisonment sentences did a cistern, the original use of the room was an archaic tomb dome, but this is not supported by some source history.

Carcer

The Carcer , at the current state of the investigation, consists of two adjacent rooms placed on two different levels: the room FIGURE 3: CHANNEL FOR DREINAGE trapezoidal (commonly identified FROM TULLIANUM as the real Carcer ) and the com-

6 The dating is not secure, accord- ing to the Coarelli, however indi- cates that as to be fixed between 39 and 42 B.C. while Hulsen de- fines it as due to the consuls that "had the power under the reign of Tiberius or Caligula (between 20 and 40 A.D.)”, leading to a period broadly consistent with the sec- FIGURE 4: SECTION OF THE CARCER IN ond quarter of the I century. A.D. NORTH-SOUTH DIRECT ION, FACING The facade looks like a massive WEST. wall of ashlar blocks of travertine, placed in front of another wall of partment adjacent to the North limestone blocks of Grotta Oscura front, a rectangular, long and nar- and visible from the inside of row room. Carcer . Outside is longer than the The trapezoidal room has at least inside and also on the right side three construction phases, two of continues up to and including the which fit into a republican age; at room adjacent to the Carcer , a first stage should be reported found in recent excavations. On the SW corner of the south wall this there was the gateway of Ro- while the west wall, together with man times while the current entry the northern one and the cover- is the modern era (it was, howev- age, can be attributed to a second er, already present in 1589 when, phase. The front in travertine to give more light inside, was de- blocks was istead built in the early cided to raise and widen the imperial age, but it remains un- door). clear if the wall where there is the On the side facing the south wall current entrance is referable to is characterized by the oblique the first or second phase. detectable, especially in the first section; on the floor, covered with The inscription over the entrance slabs of modern lava stone, is reads: visible the manhole placed in the vault of the underlying Tullianum . C. VIBIUS C. F. RUFINUS, M. In the south wall is evident the COCCEIUS M. F. NERVA COS. point where the cover leaning on EX S(ENATUS) C(ONSULTO) a wall section that was pre-exist; a staircase leads to the lower lev- el and cut the Tullianum , while in

7 FIGURE 5: PROSPECTUS OF THE SIDE WALL, EAST-WEST SIDE, AND ROOM ADJACENT TO CARCER . the past, the only opening to the is believed to be connected with room below was formed by the the Carcer and has walls in circular hole in the center of the square work of Monteverde tuff or floor; is however to be remem- dell’ tuff, with blocks from bered as this is not the original, slightly dimpled surface. but that was probably built during The north wall border on a wall an ancient restoration. structure of considerable thick- Coarelli points out that along the ness, already identified during the slopes of the Capitol hill the excavations of the 40s of the XX Carcer had to be linked to other century, with the defensive circuit/ rooms, known by the name of construction of the Capitol. It has Lautumiae , because was settled emerged also that the remains of in the ancient quarries of tuff; the a furnace with the brick floor and Hulsen, at the beginning of ‘XX walls in flakes of gray tuff bound century had noted the presence of with mortar and subsequently in- “… other rooms adjoining it is cer- corporated between the structures tain the existence, but none is yet of the convent behind the struc- available." ture. The room of Roman times, now The excavations have brought to surveyed, is adjacent to the clivius light, however, especially the part Argentarius ; partially excavated, it of the walls; sections of them in

8 square work of Grotta Oscura tu- prisoners were executed. Accord- fa, are based in part directly ing to Christian tradition, the place against the virgin soil of silt sandy was also the prison of the Apos- yellow and partly above tracks in tles Peter and Paul and the first, it masonry blocks in cappellaccio is said, that a miracle occurred: tufa. Comparisons with the re- he gushed out from the floor the mains of the Servian city walls, spring with he baptized his jailers strengthened after 390 B.C. attest Processo and Martinianus , but we that these walls must have been all know that this is only legend, part of the city walls and the and there is no certain evidence Carcer is part of the same struc- of the permanence of the apos- ture. tles. We also know that the two apostles were not killed here, be- Were also found cisterns for extin- cause St. Peter was conducted on guishing the lime above the ar- the Vatican hill and St. Paul at the chaeological layer that covered Aquae Salvie , but this tradition is the walls of Roman and medieval still very old and the transfor- period; this system must be connected to construction ac- tivities to be placed between the mid- fifteenth century and 1540, the year of foundation of the first church of St. Joseph of the Car- penters and the ad- jacent rooms.

The sources talk at lot about Carcer , both for the quotes as the place of "excellent execu- tions of prisoners," but even in the IV century A.D. as a place in which state

9 mation of the prison in the church sar2000/ sezione Aree Archeolog- (hence the name of the Church of iche, Il Carcer Tullianum, Roma, San Pietro in prison) can be 2001 traced back to the IV century A.D. by Pope Sylvester I. Only in the hagiographic sources we could find to the prison called Carcer Mamertinus (or Custody Mamer- tini), which is not ever used in the classical sources.

References

• COARELLI F. Roma, Guide Ar- cheologiche Laterza, Roma Bari, IV ed. 2005 • VITRUVIO Pollio, Marcus, De ar- chitectura, Liber V, Cap.III, Einaudi, Torino • PLINIO, Naturalis Historiae, VII, 212 • CARTOCCI L. rilievo pubblicato in Lugli G., Il Carcere Mamertino. L'antica prigione di Roma, in Capi- tolium, VIII (1932) • LIVIO Tito, Ab Urbe Condita, Liber I, 33 • LTUR, v. Carcer Tullianum, di G. Tagliamone, Quasar, Roma, 2003 • HULSEN Ch., Il Foro Romano – Storia e Monumenti, Loescher, Roma, 1905 • BORSARI L., Topografia di Roma Antica, Hoepli, Milano, 1897 • PAVIA C., Guida a Roma sotterra- nea, Gangemi, Roma, 2000 • Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali, Soprintendenza Archeo- logia di Roma, sito internet http:// www.archeorm.arti.beniculturali.it/

10 The ROMAN houses under the Basilica of Ss. Giovanni e Paolo aT CeliUS MONS

11 FIGURE 1: FLOOR PLAN OF THE HOUSES AT CAELIUS MONS

On the west side of the , ve- least in this part of town, has stop- ry closed to the and ped: it is the clivius Scauri . The the Palatine, in a relatively small church dates back to the V centu- area there are numerous chur- ry. It is located at the first floor of ches of great importance, Grego- an extraordinary complex of an- ry, S. Maria in Domnica, S. Stefa- cient buildings. Discovered in no Rotondo and Basilica of Sts. 1886 by Father Rector of the Ba- Giovanni e Paolo. On the south silica above, was reopened to the side of that road salt surmounted public in 2002, after 14 years of by a medieval buttresses; follow it restoration. The access to the you have the feeling that time, at archaeological site is an entrance

12 created on the right side of the modified becoming an elegant clivius Scauri. The existing peri- aristocratic domus, with reception meter wall of the early Christian rooms decorated with frescoes. In church, which overlooks the cli- the second half of the IV century, vius , incorporates the façade of following the translation of the the insula, in which we could re- relics of venerable bodies (which cognize the arched portico and tradition identifies with the titular two windows on the upper floors. Saints of the Basilica), was built the so-called confession, a niche The archaeological site leads you on a landing floor painted with a through over 20 rooms in an un- representation of the stories of derground environment, partly Christian martyrs. In the niche frescoed with paintings dating was opened a fenestella confes- from the third century A.D. and sionis and below this was excava- the Middle Ages. An extraordinary ted in the natural tuff three cavi- archaeological stratification, on multiple levels, in which the struc- tures of different periods overlap and intersect each others, making the understanding of the site quite challenging. The rooms, being mostly below the right aisle of the church, are also cut by the foun- dation walls of the colonnade that separates this from the central nave.

The complex, consisting of three houses of the second century A.D., was transformed in the first half of the III century, in a building with shops at street level, each one with a room on the back that overlooked a courtyard and priva- te rooms on the upper floors. Between the late III and early IV century, these units, probably as a result of the purchase by a sin- FIGURE 2: ROOM OF THE CON- FESSIO gle owner, are refurbished and

13 ties, which were interpreted as parallel to the clivius Scauri and, graves. towards a second street perpendi- cular to this which ran along the The first floor of the house was Temple of . In its current probably used as a meeting pla- state, it can be dated at the Ha- ce, and it's size and shape is not drian age, on the basis of brick too different from those of the ba- stamps founded in the walls, but it silica in the upper site, which then presents oldest phases, at least incorporated the titulus and the belonging to the Flavian age. buildings nearby. The ground floor consisted of lar- The core is made up of one of the ge rooms, almost exactly oriented houses on two levels, dating the II to the cardinal points, and were century A.D., occupied by a ther- originally decorated with stucco, mal suite (balneum) on the lower polychrome wall paintings and level and an insula [a typical tene- mosaics. The land of the site, ment with a porch and tabernae at which descended rapidly towards the street level and housing plans north, leaving the place for some on the superior] built at the begin- rooms more deep than those de- ning of the III century A.D. along scribed, but on the ground floor, in the clivius Scauri . the direction of the valley. These The house has tho entrances, one were occupied by a small private leading directly to the ground thermal establishment with two floor, while the second, leading to different rooms, one with a basin the upper floor. The windows and one with a terracotta labrum. were arranged in two groups, al- most symmetrical, to the sides of the central axis, 13 on the first floor, 12 per second. In the porch of the ground floor were opened some tabernae.

Under the church were dwelled, at the end of the XIX century, two large houses - one of which be- longs to the facade before descri- bed - separated by a narrow cour- tyard, then turned into a rich nym- phaeum. The house in north-east side facing originally on the road FIGURE 3: ROOM OF THE GENIUSES

14 The best preserved domus is the the ground floor, between this and one on which was settled the cen- the clivius Scauri . Some areas tral nave and the left on of the were originally tabernae, which basilica; this was separated from were opened onto the porch outsi- the other by a narrow courtyard de (which was closed in late pe- that was transformed, in a second riod with partitions, thus forming step, in a rich nymphaeum, an rooms on the front). Others in- installation of fountains with wa- stead gave access to the cour- ter. The floor is made of a poly- tyard and from there to the nor- chrome mosaic in large tiles; it is thernmost house, while a small also known, in the center, a large passage is the cage of the stair- pit, which was then extended on case leading to the upper floor. In one site to the top and the bottom that, the next rooms with the large floor of the church. A rich painted fresco you can see a remarkable decoration covered the walls of decoration in white, with youths the room: on the right you can still who support a festoon made of see traces of a procession of cu- plant, interspersed with peacocks pids on sea monsters. Also, very and other large birds. In the vault well preserved, a magnificent fre- are represented shoots and ten- sco of the II century, 5 meters drils, such as flutter cupids and long and 3 high, which is perhaps birds. The floor was covered with the return of Persephone from slabs of marble, removed in the Hades or, according to others, past, but we are able to see the Venus with Bacchus. At the other imprints.This remarkable contem- end of the court (over the founda- porary decor seems close to that tion wall of the portico of the of the nymphaeum. church) is a large scale against the north wall of the domus. The A later decoration, dating the first building, an insula divided into half of the IV century A.D., is loca- multi-storey apartments, under- ted in other rooms; thy are, for the went profound transformations, most part, imitation of rich poly- probably the mid-third century: it chrome marble encrustations. In was significantly lowered and tur- the so-called "classroom of the ned into domus, so we could as- person praying" the fresco deco- sumed that the nymphaeum in the ration, always dating the IV centu- court belongs to this second pha- ry, is richer and very well preser- se. ved (except for the central part, From the courtyard of the nym- which is lost). Above the usual phaeum we leads to the rooms of decoration, imitating marble cru-

15 SS. Giovanni e Paolo al Celio, L’Erma di Bretschneider, Ro- ma, 2004 • CALCI C., Roma Archeologica, ADN Kronos Libri. Roma, 2005 • LTUR, v. Caelius Mons (in età classica), di Giannelli G.

FIGURE 4: ROOM OF THE PRAYER- FUL stae, runs a heavy frieze of acan- thus, above which starts the turn, covered by a circular pattern, divi- ded into 12 sectors. Within these ones are represented male cha- racters, which govern Rotuli, and pairs of sheep, as well as other decorative elements, in a bezel appears the figure of a man in praying, represented in the usual way, with open arms, which shows the Christian character of the house in this period.

A well-kept antiquarium collects the materials discovered during the excavations.

References

• AA.VV., Case romane e Anti- quarium sotto la basilica dei

16 DOMUS

17 promoting the completion of the works towards the Forum. In 1873 the building passed to the Provin- cial Deputation in Rome.

The underground areas have re- mained buried until 2004. The excavation activities, retraining, research and museum display began in June 2005, carried out until recent years, with an entirely staff of art historians, archaeologi- FIGURE 1: PAVED ROAD IN FRONT OF THE DOMUS sts and architects, and has pro- ved the exceptional importance of Palazzo Valentini was built from the ruins of this area in the impe- the end of the XVI century on the rial age - we are 80 meters far initiative of Cardinal Michele Bo- from the Trajan column - real cen- nelli, nephew of ; the ter of the cultural and political life high priest had launched a vast of the roman city at that time. The operation of reclamation of the findings also help to rebuild an area of the Imperial Forum. At this important part of the ancient and stage of the factory, perhaps di- medieval topography of this area. rected by the friar Domenico Pa- ganelli who imposed the trapezoi- We are in fact faced with two ma- dal plant building with an elegant jor sites: facade facing the Piazza SS. Apo- stles, followed in the XVII century a series of renovations and expansions under the Cardinal Carlo Bonelli. In the firsts years of the XVIII century, the was leased to the Prince Ruspoli.

At mid-century, the entire building was purchased by Cardinal Giu- seppe Spinelli and In 1827 the building was purchased by the banker Vincenzo Valentini, who FIGURE 2: INTERIOS OF THE DO- established his residence here, MUS B

18 1. The remains of two rooms of different sizes, which domus dating from the late se- were equipped with floors on su- cond and third centuries A.D., spensurae and a praefurnium. who belonged to powerful families The walls still retain the clay hol- of the time, perhaps members of low tubules that were used to the senatorial class or dignitaries spread the heat, and the marble who needed a house of represen- covering. The domus also inclu- tatives. The buildings were in fact des an apsidal, recognized as a decorated with mosaics - one of classroom representative, the these is made up of more than floors and walls entirely covered 500,000 tiles - walls and floors in with colored marbles, placed to opus sectile (polychrome mar- form geometric designs of exqui- bles). There was also a thermal site elegance. facility, with a large frigidarium;

2. the "Small ," a true thermal area with pools for hot and cold water and climate patterns such as a sauna with a water heating apparatus, and tu- bules with suspensurae fictiles along the walls.

In Domus A remarkable is the mosaic floor decoration, dating FIGURE 3: DETAILS OF A PAVEMENT from the IV century, which is divi- DECORATION IN MARBLE OF THE ded into two areas. we are able to DOMUS A admire above all, the beautiful floor in room 23, consisting of multicolored tiles with geometric The two rich homes appear to decoration of a type well attested have been abandoned so sud- in the repertoire of fine ornamen- denly during the V century A.D., tal of III-VI century A.D. perhaps due to an earthquake; the whole area was gradually bu- The Domus B dates from the late ried by heaps of waste material II century A.D. is provided inside from other areas of the city, con- of a small thermal facility, dating taining artifacts dating between from the III-IV century A.D.; this the late IV and VII centuries. At installation consist of several this stage of abandonment are

19 also some graves dating, that are inserted in the phenomenon, typi- cal of V-VII century of burying the dead within the city. What makes the difference here, compared to many other archaeo- logical sites, is the enhancement of the site made with multimedia techniques edited by Piero Ange- la, Paco Lanciano and a team of technicians and experts, which has brought new life to the testi- monies of the past through virtual reconstructions, graphic effects and movies.

On 1800 square meters of exten- sion, the area will be "reborn", thanks to computer graphics walls, rooms, peristyle, thermae, decorations, kitchens, furniture, making it a virtual journey inside two houses of Imperial Rome.

Complete the course a large scale model of the area in Roman times and the various stages of Palazzo Valentini, through which the visitor can relocate within the urban con- text through its many layers of history.

Leaving the underground is also possible to observe the structures related to the anti-aircraft bunker beneath the building made during the Fascist period.

20 MITREo

21 of the minor rooms overlook these and are dating, like the rest of the building, the II century. A.D.

During the III century, some rooms were adapted to accommo- date a mithraeum; the main en- trance was located on the east side (room S in Figure 2) through a corridor, but now leads from what was supposed to be a minor entrance (rooms A and B) at that time. From the room C we could enter, through a door, into the proper sanctuary, (the spelaeum = cave), with a private room, with marble-lined niche on the right wall: this one could have the func- tions of a sacristy ( apparatorium ). FIGURE 1: PANORAMA OF THE MI- In this first section the floor is of TREO the Diocletian age (early IV centu- ry.) and it is built with large square In 1931, during some construction bricks (called bipedali ). On the works in Via Ara Maxima , was wall of the atrium there are two discovered a brick building of the niches with marble bases, where imperial age, used for public func- at the time there were the two tions, which originally faced the statues of t Cautes and Cau- carceres of the Circus Maximus . topates , flanked by two shelves The ground floor of the old build- supported the columns of two ing is quite well preserved: it is ediculae . constituted by a series of five rec- tangular parallel rooms, communi- Here there are four rooms that cating each other. In the east represent the main part of the side, there are two large staircas- mithraeum , open in the center es leading to the upper floor (the shape is an H) with an enor- (today not preserved) and mous arc in the large central spanned almost the entire length opening, to provide a sense of of the building. The stairs were unity to the structure. There are added only later, because some the counters providing a seat for

22 FIGURE 2: PLAN OF THE COMPLEX the faithful ( podia ), while in the arch, there is a round hole of two smaller rooms on the left, about 50 cm deep, in which was there is just seats on the right buried a large jar (it was probably side, due to a lack of space. Even used to collected the blood of the here, in front of the door, there sacrificed bulls, because in it, are two ediculae and two niches, were founded some bones and and in the right one is placed a teeth of pig). The floor was com- terracotta container (maybe used pletely covered with marble, partly to hold the holy water used for preserved, often of reuse. baptisms); in the center, under the

23 On the back wall there is an arch • BIANCHI L.(a cura di), " I culti with the lower surface covered Orientali a Roma " - Collana with pumice: this also line up Roma Archeologica - Anno VI some bases and niches framed n°21 - De Rosa, Roma, 2004 by ediculae . Inside them, a brick • DELLA PORTELLA I., Roma arch forms a semicircular niche sotterranea , Arsenale, 1999 covered in half-dome: here there was, in a prominent position, the statue of Mithras.

The survey found the tauromachy but it is not clear where was locat- ed: it represents Mithra slaying the bull, flanked by Cautes , Cau- topates , Sol, Luna and the raven while on the left side, it’s possible to see Mithras, after he had killed the bull, transported it on his shoulders.

The inscription at the top shows the name of the dedicator, " Deo Soli Invicto Mithrae Ti(berius ) Cl (audio ) Hermes ob votum dei ty- pum d (ono ) d(at )" [to the Sun god, the unconquered, Mithra, Hermes Tiberius Claudius, following a vote, offers the image of (the) God]. A second smaller pad is located in a niche on the right wall and shows the sacrifice of the bull: here the archaeologist have been found also a lot of inscrip- tions all with names of liberti .

References

• COARELLI F., Roma , Laterza, 2005.

24 THE Underground AT S. CRISOGONO

25 26 The archaeological discovery be- buildings, public, private and com- low the medieval basilica of St. mercial. The Regional Catalogues Crisogono (consecrated between (written in the fourth century), 1126 and 1129), as well as main- mention well insulae 4405, 90 taining the imposing ruins of the domus, 22 horrea (warehouses), church of the early Christian and 86 balinea (bathrooms), 180 lacus early medieval age, plays a role of (fountains) and 23 pistrina (bread particular interest for the under- ovens). standing of the topography and urban planning of Trastevere A so complex area required care- (latin Transtiberim ) in Roman ti- ful preventive measures in case of mes. riots or frequent fires, dating from the time of Augustus the esta- Located on the right bank of the blishment of the body of fire- river (also known as Litus Tuscus fighters, divided into seven co- and historically separated from horts (one every two regions) and the rest of the city) in the first cen- various detachments tury AD Trastevere was annexed (excubitoria ), one of which, the Urbe, only by an administrative excubitorium of Cohort VII, was point of view, as XIV Augustan traced in 1866 in front of the Basi- Regio. Two centuries later, with lica of St. Grisogono. His destina- the construction of the Aurelian tion was revealed by nearly 100 Walls (270-273 AD) finally resul- graffiti, drawn between 215 and ted included in the pomerium. 245 AD, painted plaster on the The proximity of the river, the im- walls, where in addition to the pressive road network, the con- word excubitorium recurred a nection with the commercial part frequently quote of the seventh of the city through monumental cohort (CIL VI 2998-3091). bridges, were factors that contri- buted to the extraordinary deve- Adapted in a private house of the lopment of the district, which soon II century AD, the complex cur- became the largest and densely rently consists of a large hall with populated Regio of the city, where a central hexagonal basin. On the was concentrated most of the soouth wall there is an edicula people, merchants and foreigners. through an elegant arched door- The urban fplanning of the area, way, entirely in brick, topped by a in the period of maximum deve- pediment. Of the mosaic floor in lopment (III-IV century AD), was black and white with sea subject characterized by various types of there are few remains, while are

27 disappeared the graffiti, one of tolerance banished by Constanti- which quoted the Geni excubitorii ne in 313 AD, Christians were (CIL VI 3010) which was dedica- able to have specific functional ted the shrine, in which the pain- environments to liturgical and pa- tings remain on the top of the storal needs, until the space for short walls and at the bottom of urban and suburban Rome turned the arc. indelibly marked from monumen- tal Christian buildings.

The remains of the classical age, founded during the investigation of the inferior basilica of S. Criso- gono, allow to reconstruct the an- cient Roman street level, almost 6 m below the current share, and documenting the transformation of one of the domus in a titilus, a classroom of Christian worship similar to a parish, since the be- ginning of the V century AD assu- med a basilica, a nave with exter- nal ambulatory (narthex). The Roman house (made entirely FIGURE 2: S. BENEDETTO IS of brick) is almost 2/3 of the volu- HEALING LEPERS me of the basilica, the construc- tion of which, was added to the east the narthex forepart and to During the classical age, in Tra- the west were prolonged the walls stevere it has documented the (in opera listata an alternation of presence of a Christian communi- bricks and tuff blocks) in order to ty, initially little discernible among build the presbytery and the apse. the multitude of cults, more or less official, who went spreading On either side of the apse are two in the capital of the Empire. Befo- service areas: to the right a secre- re the IV century, traces of buil- tarium, probably used to store dings, related to the new religion sacred vestments, liturgical ob- (domus ecclesiae) are indeed ve- jects and documents, and to the ry few and of doubtful interpreta- left a great room identified as a tion, while following the edict of baptistery, where you could see a

28 massive hemicycle of the bapti- cient place of worship, which were smal font, 2,6 m in diameter, func- exploited some structures such as tional ancient ritual immersion: foundations. The underground obvious, in the remains of the basilica remained unexplored for structure, the steps (with the eight hundred years until the redi- shape of an half moon) allowed scovery in the first decade of the the catechumen entering the XX century. source. The discovery of two mo- re tanks (now disappeared) con- References nected to a system of pipes that unloaded in a drainage covered • LTUR, v. Cohortium Vigilum with two bricks (“a cappuccina”), Stationes, di A.M. Ramieri would suggest the possible con- • COARELLI F., Roma, 2005 version to the baptistery of an ol- der fullonica, or a place for the dyeing of fabrics, not out of con- text in an area with a commercial vocation as Trastevere.

In an unspecified period (between X and XII century), when it was given the sacrament of baptism by sprinkling, the pool was cut by an imposing wall cross and cove- red with a floor. In the VIII century, Pope Gregory III (731-741) promoted a substan- tial restoration of the basilica, with a new roof, the construction of a semicircular crypt under the pre- sbytery, and a new decorative, sculptural and pictorial, of which there are many and valuable tra- ces. Embellishments and modifications continued until the XII century, when a new church was built from scratch, by Cardinal John of Cre- ma, slightly to the north of the an-

29 THE UNDERGROUND and the Church of

30 The church of Santa Sabina occu- archaic, in cappellaccio tufa, and pies the north-western side of the the other, on top in Grotta Oscura Aventine, a place that was cros- tufa, dating at the beginning of the sed by the vicus Armilustri (the fourth century B.C. At the time of current street of Santa Sabina). construction of the second phase The archaeological excavations of the walls, the blocks of the pre- realized in various periods vious one, were cut out to form a (especially between 1855-57 and support plane, on which the new 1936-39) under the church and in structures were erected: this fact the surrounding area, have foun- allows us to confirm the sequence ded a number of remains dating of the two building phases. from the Archaic period and the end of 'imperial age. Several buildings were later built behind the walls: the oldest of In the XIX century, it was explored them, with facilities in opera incer- the north area of the church, on ta and mosaic floors with insertion the edge of the modern garden: of pieces of colored stones here were discovered important (scutulatum), are attributable to sections of the , in private houses of the II century which are clear two phases: the B.C. Later, from the end of the

FIGURA 1: PLAN OF THE CHURCH OF SANTA SABINA

31 Republican Age; some buildings were built outside the city walls, which were then opened four steps to allow communication between the inside and the outsi- de. This means, of course, that the walls had stopped the defensi- ve function. In the second centu- ry. A.D. some of these areas were restored and used by an isiaca community, as shown by the sub- FIGURE 2 : GRAFFITI INSCRIPTIONS jects of paintings and graffiti still IN GREEK IN THE ISIACUM visible. Some restorations, made of bricks, can be dated to the III floors beginning of the imperial century A.D. and transformed part age. of these construction in a thermal Among the structures, was found area. a temple in antis, with columns of granite dating rather old (possible Other excavations, practiced un- the third century B.C.). At the end der the portico of the church, of the Republican age or early between 1936 and 1939, have Imperial one, the inter-columns revealed the presence of an an- were closed with walls in opus cient road that ran parallel to the reticulatum. It was excluded that vicus Armilustri; it was assumed, this temple may be attributed to for its path along the crest of the Juno Regina, attested in this area, highest hill, it was the vicus Altus but the assignment could be then [so called from Darsy in 1968) one of the other two minor sanc- and also mentioned in an inscrip- tuaries note: this could be the tion. Along the vicus Armilustri temple of Jupiter Liber or the tem- there was a brick building with a ple of Libertas. courtyard and around it a lot of small rooms: the type of construc- The underground tunnels tion and mosaics allow to attribute it to the later augustean age. In 2005, the site was again explo- red, in particular the tunnels be- Of significant importance were longing to the water system (the also carried out excavations be- underground area was discovered neath the basilica, where they in the XIX century by Dominican were found homes with marble Father Besson and later resear-

32 FIGURA 3: FLOOR PLAN OF THE LOWER TUNNELS UNDER THE BASILICA OF SAN- TA SABINA (DESCEMET 1864)

ched and published by Descemet not present any kind of running in 1864). water from aqueducts, at least The entrance to the rooms of the until 144 B.C. (period of the con- Roman period, those leaning struction of Aqua Marcia); in addi- against the Servian Wall, is loca- tion, the water layer was too deep ted in the garden of the church of for an easily access and intercep- Santa Sabina; here, through a tion by the Romans. So it was manhole elliptical descending easier to dig into the bedrock, a along a deep pit of about 8 me- cistern that collected rainwater ters, we lead to the first level of and do them available to the pu- the tunnels, located at 36 m abo- blic, through the use of wells. ve sea level (at 20 m compared to the Roman level). This first net- In the area of intersection work, presents a section without between 4 tunnels [Figure 3] is coating and, along its path, there located a second pit (dug into the are some circular wells coated in rock and with a rectangular cappellaccio tufa. The complex shape) that leads to deeper water has been interpreted as a tunnel- layer, a 15 m above sea level (20 tank for water storage, as in was m below the ground level of the

33 Roman period). The tunnel placed at its base, developing for about 200 meters, is directly excavated in direction NW/SE and, on both sides, there are branches made in different times, leading to the sites identified by the Descemet and now completely covered by de- bris.

This passage was interpreted by Piranesi, the Descemet and Darsy, as a branch of the aqueduct Appius (312 BC), but today it is clear that it is an exten- sion of the tunnel-tank first level, with the aim of increasing the vo- lume of water available in the sy- stem, draining the most important aquifer system of the area. The tunnel-tank was canceled when in the area arrived the Aqua Marcia, so the wells were gradually closed by the structures in opera reticola- ta, dated to the first century. B.C.

References

• Coarelli C., Roma, Laterza, 2005 • LTUR, v. S.Sabina, basilica, Titulus, di S. Episcopo • Lombardi L, Germani C., Livi V., Sistemi idraulici ipogei nell’area di Santa Sabina a Ro- ma, in Opera Ipogea, n.2, 2007 FIGURA 4 : SECTION OF THE WELL- DOWN TO THE TUNNELS AT 15 M S.L.M., (DESCEMET 1864)

34

35 opening in the side of the hill, not the original main entrance. After discovery, the few surviving re- mains, were moved and interred with honor elsewhere or unkno- wingly discarded. The mo- veables—the one whole sarco- phagus and the fragments of other sarcophagi—were placed on display in the hall of the Pio- Clementino Museum at the Vati- FIGURE 1: ENTRANCE TO THE TOMB can in 1912. The sepulchre is a OF SCIPIOS rock-cut chambered tomb on the interior, with the remains of a late The Tomb of the Scipios (Latin façade on the exterior. sepulcrum Scipionum ), also called the hypogaeum Scipionum , was During the republic the tomb the common tomb of the patrician stood in a cemetery for notables family during the Roman and their families located in the Republic for interments between angle between the Via Appia and the early 3rd century BC and the the on a connecting early I century AD. Then it was road joining the two just past the abandoned and its location was branch point. It was originally ou- lost within a few hundred years. tside the city not far from where The tomb was rediscovered twice, the Via Appia passed through the the last time in 1780 and stands Servian Wall at the . under a hill by the side of the road In subsequent centuries new con- behind a wall at numbers 9 and struction changed the landmarks 12 Via di , of the vicinity entirely. The wall Rome, where it can be visited by was expanded to become the Au- the public for a small admission relian Wall through which the Por- price. The location was privately ta Appia admitted the Via Appia. owned on discovery of the tomb The cemetery was now inside the but was bought by the city in 1880 city. The Appian gate today is cal- at the suggestion of Rodolfo Ame- led the Porta San Sebastiano. deo Lanciani. A house was sub- sequently built in a previous vi- The tomb was founded around neyard there. The current main the turn of the III century BC, after entrance to the tomb is an arched the opening of the Via Appia in

36 FIGURE 2: RECONSTRUCTION OF THE FACADE OF THE TOMB

312 BC, probably by the then buried here, but according to Livy head of the family, Lucius Corne- and Seneca were buried in their lius Scipio Barbatus , consul in villa at Liternum. 298 BC. He was the earliest The inscriptions on the sarco- known occupant after his death phagi also suggest that the hypo- around 280 BC. His sarcophagus geum was complete about 150 was the only one to survive intact BC. At that time it came to be - it is now on show at the Vatican supported by another quadrangu- Museums, re-united with its origi- lar room, in this were buried a few nal inscription. According to Coa- others of the family. relli, the capacity of 30 burial pla- The creation of a solemn ces was reached, and the main "rupestre " facade also dates to body of the complex was essen- that period. The decoration is at- tially complete, by the middle II tributed to the initiative of Scipio century BC, but new burials conti- Aemilianus , and is a fundamental nued at long intervals until the 1st example of Hellenization of Ro- century AD. man culture in the course of II century BC. At that period the The tomb held the remains of one tomb became a kind of family mu- person outside the Scipio family: seum, that perpetuated and publi- the poet , of whom there cised the deeds of its occupants. was a marble statue in the tomb The last well-known use of the according to . None of the tomb itself was in the Claudio- more familiar Scipios ( Africanus , Neronian period, when the Asiaticus and Hispanicus ) were daughter and the grandchild of

37 Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Gae- dug into a tufa ledge on a large tulicus were buried here. These square plan, and a brick-built ar- burials may be an attempt to em- cade from the later period, with a phasize for ideological reasons separate entrance. The view ex- his descent from the Scipios. Re- pressed by Simon Bell Platner pairs on the tomb continued until (among others) that the tomb was the IV century. After then the built over a tufa quarry is purely mainly Christian Romans (who did conjectural. No evidence exists not have the same loyalties to the either for or against. traditions of pagan Rome) appa- The central room is divided by rently stopped maintaining it and four large pilasters, repaired in the lost track of it. course of excavations to ensure The monument is divided into two the hypogeum did not collapse, distinct parts: the main complex, with 4 long arcades along the si-

FIGURE 3: PLAN OF THE TOMB

38 des and two central galleries that ber of Scipiones who lived cross each other at right angles, between the beginning of the III giving the appearance of a grid and the middle of II century BC. plan. The façade faced north- There are two types of sarcophagi east, but only a small part of it, - "monolithic" (i.e.; carved from a shown few remains of wall pain- single block of tufa) and tings. "constructed." The latter type, It was made up of a high podium which is in the majority, is an ar- bordered by severe cornices, in ched recess sunk into the wall in which were three ashlar arches which the deceased was placed, made of Aniene tufa: one led to and the opening covered by an the entrance of the hypogeum inscribed slab with the letters (central), one to the new room painted red. English writers typi- (right hand), while the third (left cally called these recesses hand) led nowhere. This base "loculi". The recesses stand whe- was entirely covered in frescoes, re they were, but the slabs have of which only small pieces remain, been moved to the Vatican. The showing three layers: the two ol- monolithic sarcophagus of Barba- dest (from about the middle of the tus was at the end of a corridor, in II century BC) show historical sce- line with what once may have nes (some soldier figures can be been a window, now the main recognised), while the last, the entrance. The other sarcophagi of most recent, has a red simple de- both types were added later as coration with stylized waves (I further shafts and rooms were century AD). sunk for the purpose. More spectacular, was the upper part of the façade, with a tripartite Floor plan of the tomb, based on view, semicolumns and three ni- a plan by Filippo Coarelli. (1) is ches into which (according to Li- the old entrance fronting on the vy) were placed the statues of park road, (2) is a "calcinara", an , his brother Sci- intrusive mediaeval lime kiln, (3) pio Asiaticus and the poet Ennius , is the arched entrance seen in the author of a poem, Scipio. On the photographs, anciently overloo- left a large circular cavity has de- king the Via Appia, (4) is the en- stroyed a corner of the tomb, pro- trance to the new room. Letters bably by the construction and use from A to I were the sarcophagi or of a lime kiln in the medieval pe- loculi with inscriptions. The tomb riod. The 30 resting places appro- is now empty except for facsimi- ximately correspond to the num- les; the remains were discarded

39 FIGURE 4: INSCRIPTIONS ON THE SARCOPHAGUS IN THE TOMB OF SCIPIOS

or reinterred, while the sarcophagi The top of the sarcophagus is fragments ultimately went to the modeled as a cushion. Vatican. Sarcophagus of Lucius Cornelius Scipio (B) Sarcophagus of Scipio Barbatus The name is on a lid fragment (A) (CIL VI 1286) and the epitaph on The name is incised on the lid a slab fragment (CIL VI 1287). (CIL VI 1284) and the epitaph The name is painted in red letters. (CIL VI 1285) on the front of the They hang on the wall of the mu- only intact sarcophagus (some of seum. the decorative detail has been restored). The letters were origi- Sarcophagus of Publius Cornelius nally painted red. A Doric-style Scipio, Flamen Dialis (C) decorative panel is above the in- All that remains of the sarcopha- scription featuring roses alterna- gus, now in the Vatican, is two ting with column-like triglyphs. fragments of a stone plate contai-

40 ning the engraved inscription, considered one inscription, CIL VI 1288. The break obscures a few letters easily and comprehensibly restored.

Sarcophagus and inscription of Lucius Cornelius Scipio, son of Asiaticus (D) The inscription on the sarcopha- gus (CIL VI 1296) survives in the Vatican and identitifes the decea- sed as Lucius Cornelius L.f. P.n. Scipio, probably the second gene- ration of the Cornelii Scipiones Asiatici (Lucius Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus II).

References

• COARELLI F., Roma, 2005 • LTUR, v. Sepulcrum Cornelio- rum Scipionum, di Zevi F.

41 Titulus equitium Colle Oppio

42 of the Baths of Titus and Trajan, of which some remains, such as the cistern of the Seven Halls, are still visible. We know also the pre- sence of a small water basin, La- ke of Orpheus, who was located at the beginning of clivius Subur- ranus, which corresponds to today's Street of Selci, and the vicus Sabuci (Viale Monte Opium) FIGURE 1: VIEW OF THE ENTRANCE AND OF THE STAIRCASE LEADING along the walls of the Basilica. TO THE BASEMENT AND OF THE VESTIBULE Entering in the church, the deco- ration dating from the mid-1600s, This site is one of the most signifi- we walk along the center aisle to cant examples of historical and the stairway down to the crypt architectural continuity from Ro- (below the altar) from there, man times to the present. The through a door on the left, we go Titulus Equitii is located in the down with an additional scale wi- basement of the Basilica of thin the Title Equitius. SS.Silvestro and Martino ai Monti It is a large area of irregular (on the Opium Hill) and layering shape with the axis oriented east- on multiple levels (from the II cen- west, divided into three aisles by tury AD) it is of particular interest six pillars to form 11 rooms; There in the history of Christianity. It was are three types of masonry, of here that there was probably the which the predominant is in original titilus Equitii, which is the bricks. The original hall, a rectan- first titular church of Equitius; this gular one, had a rich mosaic floor name identifies the titular church, with tiles black and white develo- which is the main place in the one ping a checkerboard pattern (now of pastoral district in which the city visible in some places), and fre- was divided. scoed walls. The building consi- The church is situated on the sted of two floors, later demoli- Esquiline, which is the Augustan shed, so the original function Regio III, dedicated to the could be either an insula or a co- Egyptian gods Isis and Serapis; vered market, dating both from this area was affected by the con- about the III century. At the begin- struction of the of ning of the IV, there was a pro- , and the imposing structures found transformation of the struc-

43 ture that was used for Christian because it was in the middle of an worship: the frescoes represented area with still a lot of pagan Orien- the life of Christ and furnishings of tal cults, such as Mithraism and marble overlaid the room. the cult of Isis and Serapis, against which the Christians were fighting and could be thwarted by their Title presence. Early this structure became an important meeting place for the Christian Church, which at that time were being organized to reach capilla- ry all the Roman communities.

We know that in these rooms was held the Synod in 499 and tin 595, which open an another matter debated on the name given to the title. In fact, while in the first Synod was used the name of the title Equitius in the second we found Silvestro, creating doubt that we could deal with two diffe- rent titles. In fact, in the time elap- sed between the Synods there is a Christianization of the names of FIGURE 2: STOUP OR FONT INSIDE worship places and, therefore, so OF THE MAIN ROOM. it is undoubtedly the same.

It was Pope Sylvester to establish Symmachus will expand in Title the Title Equitius, arranging the during the VI century, including in room according to the needs of the building an interesting and the Christian rite and for the mee- curious auditorium of the III centu- tings of the community in this ry, discovered accidentally in the area. A controversy arose among restoration of the 1930s and the archaeologists and historians to use of which is still unknown. Fur- understand the reason for the ther work was carried out by Pope choice and use of these premises Sergius II (IX cent.), who ordered and in this area. Some historians the construction of the Basilica believe that the building was used above and the restoration, at the

44 same time embellishing, the Title. The pillars, which divide the room were reinforced and expanded, following the restoration and ma- gnification of the building above, which took place in the XIII centu- ry. In 1637 the Prior Antonio Filippini adapted the title to one of the lo- cal chapel in honor of St. Sylve- ster. Some fragments of paintings FIGURE 3: MEDIEVAL TOMBSTONE (IX century) are still visible on the FOUNDED DURING THE EXCAVA- ceiling with scenes of the Saints, TIONS. Mary and Jesus, in the typical movements and flashy clothes that we find Byzantine art. The remains, very spoiled a wall mo- saic, depicting the foot Symma- chus's Eve, are still kept on top of an altar made during the restora- tion works of the XVII century.

References

DELLA PORTELLA I., Roma sot- terranea, Arsenale, Verona, 2002

45 City of water Vicus caprarius

46 The roman buildings of the Vicus ded in the regio VII, which took its Caprarius have been brought to name from the ancient Via Lata light between 1999 and 2001 du- (which now corresponds to Via ring the renovation of the former del Corso). This area was af- Cinema . The archaeological fected by the expansion of the city excavation, funded entirely by the building only from the age of Au- owner of the building, now makes gustus : the later urbanization ga- it possible to admire one of the ve a particular characteristic to best compromise between the the area (the great alluvial plain to need of preserving the ancient the west by closed loops of the and the willingness to use the Tiber) compared with the others space recovered. regions of the city.

The term "City of Water", currently The buildings highlighted in the used to define the archaeological "Sala Trevi" stood along the an- area of the vicus Caprarius, is due cient Via Salaria Vetus , the princi- to the presence of the element pal street of the regio VII together that undoubtedly characterizes with the Via Lata. In the area cor- the site: first, the water that flows responding to the current street of from the , the Baro- San Vincenzo and Via dei Luc- que monumental exhibition of the chesi, the road took the name of Acqua Virgo that lies near the ar- Vicus Caprarius : the name pro- chaeological site; in the excava- bably was connected to an aedi- tions they have also discovered a cula Capraria, an ancient place of large distribution tank of the an- worship whose presence is atte- cient aqueduct, which supplied sted in this area. (through lead pipes still preserved in place) tanks of a luxurious The walls founded refer to a mansion near it. Second, the “block", an isolated, but built spring water, coming from a po- jointly in two separate buildings, werful aquifer, which flows into which has an extension over the ground by filtering through the 2,000 square meters laying down ancient masonry brickwork of the between Via San Vincenzo archaeological site. (ancient vicus Caprarius ) to the west and via dei Lavatori (which Under the administrative division also follows an old roadway) to of the city into fourteen regions, the north: a size comparable to commissioned by Augustus , the those of larger insuale on the via area of vicus Caprarius was inclu- Lata.

47 the high social status of the ow- ner, probably belonging to the senatorial class; in this apparatus must be ascribed in the first place the stone artifacts on display in the central section of the antiqua- rium, but also the many marble fragments recovered from the ex- cavation, referring to slabs of wall and floor covering. The settlement of the domus FIGURE 1: VIEW OF THE ARCHAEO- changed the appearance of the LOGICAL SITE. housing complex. The ground floor probably took service func- The north building, which is pre- tions: it is shown in particular served to a high of nearly 8 m, is plumbing located here: the latrine, identified with an insula (which is with a tank for personal hygiene a housing complex for the intensi- and a second tank for drinking ve residency): it was articulated in water supply; a water supply that at least three floors, with a total document how this kind of plum- height of about 12 m original. The bing were reserved only for a first constructive phase can be small number of individuals. The dated in the age of Nero : the buil- first plan was reserved for a re- ding represents a rare example of presentative role: as show in par- the nova urbs built by Nero (after ticular the remains of the marble the great fire of 64 A.D. that deva- stated the city), known so far al- most exclusively from the literary sources. The archaeologist have identified two phases of restructu- ring in the first half of the second century and the age of Marcus Aurelius (161-180 AD).

Towards the middle of the fourth century, the insula was transfor- med into a luxurious manor house FIGURE 2: VIEW OF ONE OF THE (domus). It was then equipped ROOMS OF THE INSULA. with a rich decoration that exalted

48 revetment of the wall and mosaic Due to its particular characteri- marble flooring, now in the anti- stics, the artefact is almost cer- quarium. tainly identified with a distribution Around the middle of the V centu- tank (castellum aquae) of the ry, most likely during the looting of Aqua Virgo: literary sources have the Vandals of Gaiseric in the documented the existence of 18 year 455 A.D, the domus was de- castella along the urban part of vastated by fire: the ground floor the Aqua Virgo, but until now no- was then obliterated by a filling of ne of these had yet been brought about 4 feet tall, whose excava- to light. tion yielded, in addition to many of the decorative stone elements, some 14,000 fragments of potte- ry, and more than 800 pieces in bronze coin. The building in the south part is preserved for a considerable por- tion (almost 6 m high): originally it has at least two levels, for a total height of about 11 meters. Since the original construction phase, dating even here in the reign of FIGURE 3: PARTICULAR OF COHE- Nero, the building had to perform SION BETWEEN TWO INSULAE ON a public function. THE SAME STREET. At a later stage, dating in the age of Hadrian (after the year 123 Towards the middle of the VI cen- A.D.), the complex underwent a tury, the tank was abandoned, as profound transformation. The two a result of the destroying of the rooms closest to the vicus Capra- aqueducts operated by Vitige king rius were transformed into one ot Goths in the year 537; even large cistern with a capacity esti- here the obliteration of the struc- mated at 150,000 liters. The floor tures was followed by a destructi- and the walls, were reinforced ve fire, well documented by exca- (doubled at least) to balance the vation. pressure of the water inside and At block of imperial age overlap they were coated with a thick the remains of a medieval settle- layer of hydraulic plaster ment of considerable interest. As (cocciopesto). shown by the stratigraphic investi- gations, between the XI and XII

49 centuries the decking, which stood at about 5 m above the le- vel of the imperial age, coinciding in the south side of the building, with the height of the first floor: here the excavations have brou- ght to light the remains of two buildings, interpretable without doubt as two separate apartments. It was possible to distinguish two constructive pha- ses, dating from the XII and XIII century, the walls re-use materials taken from the ancient (in particu- lar blocks of tufa and bricks). Of particular interest, in the buil- ding located to the east, the pre- sence of a pit dated to the XIII century: it is the oldest evidence of use of water, still present in the subsurface.

References

• INSALACO G, L’area Archeolo- gica del vicus Caprarius, Imago Romae • LTUR, v. Vicus Caprarius, di S. Serra • Roma Sotterranea, La città dell’acqua

50

51