The archæology of Rome, Part 8

by John Henry Parker

CLAUDIA AND ANIO NOVUS OVER THE PORTA MAGGIORE

I. Over the Porta Maggiore. In the lower view the two specus are seen endways, built of squared stone, as part of the gateway. The point of view for this is nearly the same as that of Plate [XV.], looking south instead of west. The curious tomb of the Baker Eurysaces is seen on the left, with the stone kneading-troughs of which it is built.

II. The upper view is one corner of the great reservoir of Nero on the Cœlian, near the west end, over the Arch of Dolabella, which is seen built of well-cut stone, and perfectly plain. This has an inscription, with the names of the Consuls of the time of Augustus (A.D. 10), forty years afterwards; the arch, which was the eastern entrance into the Claudium, was used by the engineers of Nero as a substructure for the corner of the great reservoir of water for the supply of that part of Rome, which was carried at the height of thirty feet from the ground. Some small square windows are seen in the wall, which belonged to the chapel of S. Thomas in formis (or in the arches), made in the remains of the arcade in the eighth century, and removed in the twelfth for a larger chapel, now in the garden of the Villa Celi-montana near to it. At the left-hand corner of this view is seen the gateway of the small monastery of the Redemptorists, with the celebrated mosaic picture over it, representing Christ between a black and a white slave, shewn in another plate of this work.

Plate XVII.

Arches of Nero within the Porta Maggiore.

AQUEDUCTS. ARCHES OF NERO.

WITHIN THE PORTA MAGGIORE.

AQUA MARCIA, WITHIN THE PORTA MAGG: 1871.

This double arcade crosses the valley or inner foss of the Sessorian Palace. It was built on this plan for greater strength, as the piers are of a great height. This arcade is a continuation of the one that forms the northern wall of the Sessorian gardens, in a direct line to the west, over the Cœlian to the great reservoir over the Arch of Dolabella (shewn in the last plate). The specus was carried at the top, and conveyed the water of the Claudian and Anio Novus, united at the Gemelli (a great twin reservoir which was close to that point, and at the north-west angle of the Sessorian gardens). The Claudian as a separate water turns at a sharp angle, and goes on to the Porta Maggiore, with the Anio Novus over it, and terminated at another tower just to the north of the place where the Marcia, Tepula, and Julia pass through the wall. But they left a considerable part of their water at that angle to be united to that of the Anio Novus at the Gemelli.