[97] This water is now usually called Acqua di Trevi, because its terminus is at the great fountain of Trevi. The sources are in the estate of Salone, as above described. It is still in use, and was long considered as the best water brought into Rome. The line now used is the one repaired and restored by the Popes; but, near Rome, it has been altered, probably after it had been damaged by the Goths or the Lombards. The old specus passed through the Catacomb of S. Priscilla, in the Via Salaria, where it may be seen. This is demonstrated by the cippus of the aqueduct of Virgo, discovered in the Via Salaria, and so recorded by Muratori, Thes. Vet. Inscr., ccccxlii. 7, “Romæ in Via Salaria:”—
VIRG.
TI . CÆSAR . AVG.
PONTIF . MAXIM.
TRIB. POT. XXXVIII.
COS . V̅. IMP. V̅I̅I̅I̅.
I.
P. CXL.
This inscription is A.D. 36.
It was then brought to the bank or mœnia on which the wall of Aurelian was afterwards built near the Porta Salaria, and may be traced upon or in that bank under the present wall of Rome for about a mile. For a short distance, where this ground is low, it was carried on an arcade, of which there are remains under the wall built upon it. After this it goes on as far as the garden of the Villa Borghese and the French Academy, under which it now passes through the Pincian Hill.
TI . CLAVDIVS . DRVSI . F. AVG. GERMAN. PONT.
MAX. TRIBVNIC. POT. V. IMP. IX. P.P. COS. III.
DESIG. IIII. ARCVS . DVCTVS . AQVÆ . VIRGI
NIS . DISTVRBATOS . PER . C. CÆSAREM . A. FVN
DAMENTIS . NOVOS . FECIT . AC . RESTITVIT
This inscription was erected A.D. 46.
[99] There are remains of the Septa in the cellars under the houses on the west side of the Corso, in its lower part. These remains of the arcade are now chiefly underground, owing to the filling up of the great foss, called in this part Via Lata, because the wide foss under part of the Quirinal and of the Capitol had at one time been made into a wide street or place, on the eastern side of which is situated the Church of the “SS. Apostoli in Via Lata” and that of S. Maria in Via Lata on the western side, at the north-west corner. The great public building called the Septa went down the western side of this wide place from S. Maria to the Venetian Palace, with an arcade towards the street or place, of which many of the arches remain in the cellars. These arches under the church of S. Maria are absurdly called the house of S. Paul. They are visible also under the Palazzo Doria to the south of that church, and in other cellars.
[100] “Idem et Virginem adduxit ab octavi lapidis diverticulo duobus millibus pass. Prænestina Via.
“Juxta est Herculaneus rivus quem refugiens Virginis nomen obtinuit.” (Plinii Nat. Hist., lib. xxxi. c. iii. § 25.)