Chapter VII. Of the temple of Mars, the Avenger

NEAR the tower of the Conti's the ruins are to be seen of the temple built formerly by Augustus to Mars the Avenger, to fulfil a vow he made, (when being together with MARK Antony at Pharfalia, against Brutus and Cassius) to revenge the death of Caesar, he engaged and overcame them,

By those parts that remain, one comprehends that this was a most adorned and marvellous edifice; and the forum that was before it must have made it much more admirable, into which, one reads, those that returned into the city, conquerors and triumphant, carried the ensigns of the triumph and victory; and that Augustus, in its most beautiful part placed two pictures, in which were represented the manner of giving battle, and triumphing; and two other pictures done by the hand of APELLES, in one of which there were Castor and Por-Lux, the goddess of Victory, and ALEXANDER the great; in the other a representation of a battle, and an Alexander. There were two portico’s, in which Augustus dedicated the statues of all those who returned triumphant to Rome.

Or this forum there are not any vestiges to be seen, unless those wings of wall, which are on the sides of the temple, should perhaps be part of it; which is very likely, from the many places for statues that are therein,

The aspect of the temple is alato a torn, which we before have called, from Vitruvius, peripteros. And because the breadth of the cell exceeds twenty foot, and there are columns placed between the two anti, or pilasters of the anti-temple opposite to those of the portico, as has been before said ought to be done in the like case, the portico is not continued round the temple: and also in the wings of the walls joined from one side to the other, the same order is not observed in the part without, although all the parts correspond within. Hence one comprehend, that behind, and on one side, there mutt have been the publick street; and that Augustus was willing to accommodate him lf to the site, not to incommode, nor take away the neighbouring houses from their owners.

Tug manner of this temple is the picnostilos. The portico’s are as large as the intercolumniations, In the part within, that is, in the cell, there is not the least mark or vestigium to be seen, neither is there any thing in the wall, whence it may positively be said that there were either ornaments or tabernacles; however, as is very likely that some there were, I have made them of my own invention. The columns of the portico’s are of Corin. than work. The capitals are wrought in the manner of olive leaves. They have the abaco much larger than what is usually seen in others of the same order, regarding the bigness of the whole capital. The first leaves may be seen to swell a little in the place where they come forth, which gives them a good grace. These have very beautiful soffits, or what we call ceilings, therefore I have made their profile and their aspect in a plan. Round this temple there were very high walls of peperino, which in the part without were of Rustick work; and in that within, they had many tabernacles, and places to place statues in.

And that the whole might be perfectly seen, I have made seven plates of it.

In the first there is all the plan in a small form; and all the elevation of as much as is to be seen of this edifice, as well in the part without, as in that within,

In the second there is the upright of the flank of the portico, and of the cell.

In the third there is the upright of half the front, with part of the walls that are on the sides of the temple. In the fourth there is the upright of the inward part of the portico, and of the cell, with the ornaments which I have added to it. In the fifth are the ornaments of the portico.

In the sixth, is designed the soffit of the portico, and how it turns in the anti, or pisa-fliers of the anti-temple, 10. In the seventh are the other members,

temple.

the wall under the portico’. Which ornaments in the inside have been added by me, taken from some antient fragments found near this temple.

F, the cornice that is seen in the wings of the walls, that form a piazza on the

Sides of the temple.