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THat part of the Esquiliae which overlooketh the church of Saint Laurence in Fontana, is named Clivus Virbius: there also is the grove Fagutalis, wherein stood the mansion house of Servius Tullius.
Neroes house, called Golden, tooke up all that space, which from that quarter wherein now Saint Gregories church standeth, lay betweene Constantines arch, the Colosseum, the Carinae, Esquiliae, and Mecaenas hortyards. His house before was in his owne fire where with he burnt the citie, consumed al∣so: and when he reedified it anew, hee called it Aurea. The spatious largenesse whereof was such, that it had about it, three porches of a mile compasse apeece. It contained also a poole like another sea: walled it was about, and resembled a very citie. There were to it belonging, holts and hamlets countrey-like, vineyards, pastures, woods, and beasts both tame and wild, of all sorts. The house and the porches were double guilded all over, and set out with pretious stones. And in one word there was nothing wanting, that might serve for pleasure or prodigall riot.
In the entrie of this house there stood an huge image giant like, called a Colossus, 120 foot high. After Neroes death, dedicated it was to the Sunne, and then changed the name. Now men thinke it was called Colossus, after his name who was the first deviser of all such statues.
VVithin the same house, Nero included also the chappell of Fortune. This goddesse being made of the stone Phengites, when all the dores were shut, gave light to the whole house within; such raies of radiant brightnesse casteth this kind of stone from it. This goddesse, Servius Tullus first consecra∣ted, and of Segetes, i. standing corne, called her Seia.
At the baines of Diocletian, there is a street-way leading up to S. Antonies church in Esquiliae, where stood sometime a most noble towne of Mecaenas, within his owne hortyards: for those most pleasant hortyards were in the plaine of Esquiliae. Here-within was Priapus worshipped: upon which ill fa∣voured idoll, Virgil hath plaied much in verse.
Neere the hortyards of Mecanas stood the said Virgils house.
The temple of Felicitie, which tooke up a part of that plot where Neroes Gold-house should stand, was by him burnt.
Above those gardens or hortyards of Mecanas, was raised a wonderfull peece of worke, called Ag∣geres Tarquinij Superbi, i. Tarquinius bulwarkes.