It ran thus:—
IMP. CAESAR AVG
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
SVFFETVLENTIVM
HANC EDIFICAVERVNT
ET DD. PP.[155]
In Shaw’s copy the letters ONIN occur in the second line, which do not exist in Peyssonnel’s, owing no doubt to a typographical error on the part of his editor.
Dr. Louis Frank, who copied the same inscription, gives the word ANTONIN at greater length.[156]
In addition to the principal gate there were large arched openings on the west and east sides, not placed symmetrically; the west one being further from the temples themselves than that on the east. Within the inclosure, and exactly opposite the gate, are the three temples, which have been very accurately described by Sir Grenville Temple, and as he was the first to publish anything like a detailed description of them, I feel that I ought to quote his own words:—