Built by Appius Claudius for common offenders, _near_ the Forum
Olitorium, and which site was afterwards occupied by the Theatre of
Marcellus (Pliny, vii. 37). We have identified this prison, remains of
which can still be seen under the theatre, consisting of chambers
constructed in _opus reticulatum_. There are two splendid open
archways of the same material leading into two large chambers, in the
vaults of which are holes for letting the prisoners down. This we
believe to have been the Decemviral Prisons and the scene of _Caritas
Romana_.
"Here youth offered to old age the food,
The milk of his own gift."
Byron visited the chambers under S. Nicola in Carcere, when he was
moved to compose his beautiful lines. He had before him the scene,
though not the site; his words are more applicable to these dungeons,
and we may say with him,--
"There is a dungeon, in whose dim, drear light
What do I gaze on?--Nothing."
_Passing the Theatre, a narrow lane on the left leads to the remains
of_