Dedicated to Octavia by her brother Augustus (Suetonius, "Aug."
xxix.). The principal portion still existing belonged to the great
portal leading to the open space surrounded by corridors which gave
the people shelter during rain. In this stood two temples, the one
dedicated to Jupiter, the other to Juno. Pillars belonging to the
latter may be seen in a house in the Via Pescheria, and remains of the
Portico of Octavia at No. 12 Via Teatro di Marcello. The inscription
on the architrave states that the building was restored by Septimius
Severus and Caracalla.
On the removal of two of the columns on which the pediment rested,
their place was supplied by an arch of brickwork, thus preventing the
building from falling in.
Four columns and two piers are still standing of the inner row; of the
outside only two columns remain, in addition to the two piers. The
capitals are ornamented with eagles bearing thunderbolts. A flight of
steps led up to this vestibule.
The stumps of columns built into the walls of several houses in the
vicinity in all probability belonged to the same edifice, which must
originally have presented a most magnificent appearance.
The Portico was ornamented with many statues; and besides the two
temples, there were libraries. It was originally erected by Metellus,
B.C. 146 (Paterculus, i. 11). The temples were built by Mr. Lizard and
Mr. Frog; but the senate would not allow them to put their names on
the buildings, and so to hand down their work they sculptured on the
spirals of the columns lizards and frogs (Pliny, xxxvi. 4). This can
still be seen in the Church of S. Lorenzo on the road to Tivoli, the
columns being taken there from here. The same authority (xxxiv. 15)
gives particulars of the many statues; and amongst others one to
Cornelia, the mother of the Gracchi, the base of which was found here
in 1878, and is now in the courtyard of the new Museum of the Capitol.
Pliny also tells us that when they dedicated the temples they by
mistake carried the god into the goddess's temple, and so they let
them remain as the will of the gods.
_On the right_ is the CHURCH OF S. ANGELO IN PESCHERIA. Here Rienzi,
on May 20, 1347, held his meeting for the re-establishment of "the
good estate;" and here he exhibited his allegorical picture, and
thence marched to the Church of S. George to fix up the proclamation.
_From the right-hand corner of this square a little alley leads to the
Via Rua, the principal street of_