founded by the kings of Alba, and taken by the Romans, under Tarquin,
through the artifice of his son Sextus. It was deserted in the time of
the republic, but recovered under the empire, to fall once more before
the time of Constantine. At the end of the ridge are remains of the
Roman Municipium and Temple of Juno of the time of Hadrian. The
buildings of CASTIGLIONE occupy the site of the ancient city. The
principal ruin is the TEMPLE OF JUNO GABINA. Virgil tells us "it was
situated amidst rugged rocks, on the banks of the cold Anienes." The
cella is composed of blocks of stone four feet by two feet; the
interior is 50 feet long; the pavement is of white mosaic. _Close by
are_ the ruins of the THEATRE, and some Ionic columns. Considerable
remains of the ancient walls can be traced. The fresh, green basin
below the ridge was once a lake, and was drained about twenty-five
years since by Prince Borghese. It is curious that there is no mention
of the lake by classical authors. It is first mentioned in reference
to the martyrdom of S. Primitivus, who was beheaded at Gabii, and
whose head was thrown into the lake. This was in the fifth century.
Perhaps the lake did not exist in Tarquin's time, and was formed by
some freak of nature after the desertion of the city.
_Returning to Rome by the Via Gabina, after passing the stream Osa_,
about two miles, we come to a fine Roman viaduct, PONTE DI NONA,
consisting of seven lofty arches, built of rectangular blocks of
_lapis gabinus_ of the time of the kings. At the eighth mile is the
medieval TOR TRE TESTE, so called from the three heads built in its
walls. Here Camillus overtook the Gauls (Livy, v. 49). _About two and
a half miles from Rome, at the_ Tor dei Schiavi, are extensive ruins
of the VILLA OF THE GORDIAN EMPERORS, consisting of a large reservoir,
the circular hall of the baths, and a circular temple, 43 feet in
diameter, called Apollo. The inside is relieved by alternate round and
square niches; the crypt beneath is supported by one pier. _Between
this and_ Tor dei Schiavi, three rooms at the base of a circular
edifice have been opened; the floors are composed of black and white
mosaic.
_On the right, about a mile further on_, is the circular tomb, 50
yards in diameter, of QUINTUS ATTA, the comic poet (B.C. 55); the
interior is in the form of a Greek cross.
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