built by the Latins under Ancus Martius, when he added the Aventine to
the city.
The cliff has been scarped to the depth of 60 feet, and a terrace made
on the ledge on which the wall stands, consisting of blocks of tufa.
It was originally 12 feet thick, and in one part an arch is introduced
for catapults, similar to those we have seen in ruins on the Palatine.
The back of this part of the wall is a mass of concrete backing. At
the foot of the wall was a trench, afterwards filled up, in which deep
wells have been made for interments. Under the hill of S. Saba, below
the cottage opposite, are traces of another early fortification formed
of masses of concrete, originally faced with large blocks of tufa.
The road here ran through the Porta Randusculana, in the
fortifications of the seven hills.
_In this vineyard are also some remains of_