The Romane historie vvritten by T. Livius of Padua. Also, the Breviaries of L. Florus: with a chronologie to the whole historie: and the Topographie of Rome in old time. Translated out of Latine into English, by Philemon Holland, Doctor in Physicke

CHAP. II. The temples of Diana, Dea bona, Hercules Victor, queene Iuno, Moneta, Luna, Victorie, Mi∣nerva, and Libertie. The altar of Iupiter Elicius.

IN the top of mount Aventine toward the Tyber, there standeth the church of S. Sabina, that very place where aforetime was the holy chappell of Diana. The feast and holiday of bond∣slaves was wont to bee kept at Rome the thirteenth day of August, for upon that day, Servius Tullius, whose mother was a bond-woman, consecrated a temple to Diana in Aventine, and ordained it to be a feastivall day for bondservants, as who were patronised by Diana. Some think that this chap∣pell was built by K. Ancus of that mony which the citizens conferred and contributed, who lately had been translated thither from Politorium. This temple was common unto all the Latines, whereupon oftentimes they resorted thereunto.

Very neere unto that place stood the church of Saint Marie, called Aventina. But in times past the place was consecrated to the goddesse Bona, i. good. For Claudia a vestall virgine or Nun, built a chap∣pell pell unto her in the honour of Fatua,* 1.1 sister of Faunus, a most chast maid.

Vpon the same banke and brow of the hill, where at this day S. Alexius church standeth, was some∣time time the temple of Hercules Conquerour. And neere unto it, another of Iuno Regina, built by Camillus with the pillage gotten in Veij. In the ruinate place of Decius the emperours baines, there was a temple al∣so of Hercules, where the Christians afterwards consecrated a church to Saint Prisca.

On the side of the Aventine hill, stood the chappell likewise of the Moone, as Ovid dooth witnesse.

Thus much of those buildings in the Aventine, which had a certain place thereupon in our know∣ledge: the rest following were doubtlesse in the Aventine, but in what part there of they stood, it is unknowne after so long time, and namely the temple of Victorie built by the Arcadians, and in honor of whom they offer sacrifice yeerely. Minerva and Iuno had their temples there in the same hill, by the testimonie of approoved authours. To Libertie a temple was built and dedicated by the father of Tib. Gracchus, with the money taken for fines and forfeitures. The cloister belonging to that temple, was by Aelius Patus and Cornelius Cethegus Censors, repaired and enlarged, and last of all by Pollio also re-edi∣fied. Now this Saint Libertie the Romanes honored above all others, and in defence and maintenance thereof, they ever shewed themselves most resolute and constant.

Vpon the same hill, Numa reared the altar of Iupiter Elicius, so called ab eliciendo, i. of fetching out secrets and hidden mysteries.

In like manner there stood an old altar of Murcea in that hill. Now they named Venus Murcea, of the Myrtle tree consecrated unto her: or as some interprete, because Venus, immoderate and excessive, maketh a man to be Murcus or Murcidus, i. sluggish, slothfull, idle, and good for nothing.

The temple of Iuno Moneta was likewise built and dedicated upon that hill.

Camillus in the same mount consecrated a chappell to dame Matuta.

The wood or grove also called Laurentum or Laurentina, consecrated unto Iupiter, was there: in which, emperor Valentinian [the second] son of Constantine, & Galla Placidia was slain, as Plinie witnesseth.

Notes

• * 1.1

  or rather daughter.