ROmulus , and Remus being ( as it is agreed vpon by most writers ) a a Plutar. vit. Rom Pighius the first founders of Rome , built it at the first in b b Rosin antiq. lib. 1. c. 2. forme of a quadrangle vpon one only hill called Mons Palatinus , though Fabius left Rome , as it was first builte , with the fieldes thereof painted in the forme of a c c Sig de iur . Rom. l. 1. c. 2. bow , the river . Tiber being the sting thereof . Vpon this hill was alwaies the seate of the Romane Empire , which from the hill tooke the denomination of a Palace : and hence d d Rosin . antiq. lib 1. c. 4. all stately buildings , which we call Palaces , tooke their name , Palatia . This hill had his first appellation Palatinus e e Rosin . ib. quasi Balatinus , à balando , from the bellowing of cattell , pasturing there in former times . But in processe of time sixe other hills by severall kings of Rome were added ; whereby the city , and the Pomoerium , that is , the territories of the citie were enlarged : and Rome was called vrbs septi-collis .i. the citie vpon seaven hils . Vpon this Palatine hill also stood the Asylum , or sanctuarie of refuge , which Romulus opened f f Alex. Gen. dier. l. 3. c. 20. in imitation of Cadmus , who at the building of Thebes was said to haue opened a sanctuarie of refuge , whither whatsoever malefactor could escape , were he bond or free , hee was not to be punished . It was much like vnto a custome of the people in the citie Croton , who flying , vnto the altars of their Gods , obtained the forguienesse of faults not voluntarily committed . Whence these two phrases are expounded alike , Ad te tanquàm ad Asylum , and Ad te tanquàm ad aram confugimus .i. we fly vnto thee as our only refuge .

THis hill was famous for three names : it was called Capitolium , mons Tarpeïus , and mons Saturni . It was named Saturnes hill g g Rosin . antiq. li. 1. c. 5. from the heathenish God Saturne , who vouchasafed to vndertake the protection of that place . It was named the Tarpeïan hill h h Plutarch . in Romulo . from Tarpeïa one of the Vestall Nuns , daughter to the chiefe-keeper of the Capitoll ( this hill being the castle of defence for the whole towne . ) For this Tarpeïa betrayed the Capitoll into the enemies hands , bargaining to haue the golden bracelets vpon her enimies left hands for this her treason . Now the enimes when they were admitted in did cast not their brace lets alone but their bucklers also vpon her , through the weight whereof she was pressed to death : vpon which occasion the whole hill was afterward called the Tarpeïan mount ; but more principally a certaine rocke of that hill called Tarpeïa rupes , from whence malefactours were sundry times tumbled head-long . The same hill was likewise called the Capitoll , because when the foundation of a certaine Temple , built in the honour of Iupiter , was laid a mans head full fresh , and liuely , as if it had bin lately buryed , i i Dion . Halicar. lib. 4. yea hot bloud issuing out of it , was found there . k k Lipsius de magnitud . Rom. cap. 5. Arnobius saith , that the name of this man being aliue was Tolus , and hence from Caput and Tolus the whole hill was called Capitolium .

THis hill being in former time called Agonalis , then began to be called Quirinalis , when certaine Sabines , called in Latine Curetes , came and inhabited there , ( truce being made betweene the Romanes , & the Sabines : ) though some woulde therefore haue it named Quirinalis , because there was a temple erected in the honor of Romulus , called also Quirinus . It was called in the time of the Emperours mons Caballus , that is , the horse-hill , taking its denomination from two marble statues of Alexander taming his horse Bucephalus : which statues Constantine the Emperour brought to Rome , and placed them in the middest of certaine bathes , which he made vpon this hill . There do appeare in this hill three risings , or hillockes , the one being called Salutaris , the other Martialis , & the third Latiaris . All this may be collected out of l l Antiq. Rom. lib. 1. cap. 6. Rosinus .

THis hill hath his name from a certaine m m Alex. Gen. dier. l. 6. c. 11. captaine of Hetruria , which assisted Romulus against the Sabines . On this hil king Tullus Hostilius erected stately edifices , which for a time served as his palace : but afterward they became the chiefe Counsell-house , whither the Senators assembled themselues , for the determining of state-matters : & because this Curia did farre exceede all others , therefore authors many times vse this word n n Alex. Gen. dier. l. 1. c. 16. Curia simply , without any adjunction to signifie Curiam Hostiliam , as if there were no other . It much resembleth our Privy-coūsel-chamber in respect that none might sit there , but only Senators ; whereas in the court-house , which Pompey built ( being therefore called Curia Pōpeïa ) o o Rosin . antiq. lib. 7 c. 6. other city-Magistrats were admitted amongst the Senators : and in curiâ Iuliâ .i. the court-house which Iulius made , were examined p p Rosin . Ibid. forreigne matters , as Embassages : but in curiâ Hostiliâ domesticall matters only were treated of , and that only by the Senators . q q Munster in sua Cosmog. lib. 2. cap. 9. At this present time this hill is beautified with many Christian Churches , as the Churches of S. Steven , S. Paul , and S. Iohn , our Saviours Hospitall , &c. r r Alex. Gen. dier. l. 6. c. 11. It was also called Mons Querculanus from the abundance of oakes growing there .

THis hill was so named quasi s s Rosin . Antiq l 1. cap. 8. excubinus ab excubijs .i. from the night watching which Romulus did vndertake vpon that , somewhat distrusting the fidelity of the Sabines in the beginning of their league . In this hill there were three hillockes named Cispius , Oppius , and Septimius .

THE Aventine mount tooke his name t t Alex. Gen. dier. li. 6. c. 11. from Aventinus a certaine king of Albanum , which was there buryed . Vpon this hill stoode Hercules his altar , and certaine temples consecrated to Iuno , Diana , Minerva , Lucina , and Murcia .i. Venus : whence the hill hath sometime beene called Diana her hill , & Mons Murcius . u u Alex. Gen. dier lib 3. c. 5. Here were those Scalae Gemoniae , whither condemned persons were dragged , and so cast headlong into the river Tiber downe a paire of staires . Vpon x x Plutarch . in Romulo . this mount Remus would haue built Rome , & therefore it was called Remonius mons . But since it hath beene called mons Rignarius , as it appeareth by Plut. in the same place . It had moreover the name of the holy mount , being called in Latine Mons sacer .

BEcause of the abundance of wicker twigs , which did grow vpon this hill , it was called mons Viminalis , vimen signifying a twigge , or ozier . I am not ignorant that some would haue this hil to be named Viminalis from Iupiter Vimineus , whereas Iupiter himselfe was named Vimineus from this hill , because he had here many altars erected in the honour of him . Both this hill , and Iupiter were called Fagutales from sylva fagea .i. a cops of beech-trees , which did grow therevpon . vid. Rosin . Antiq. lib. 1. cap. 9.

THree y y Rosin . Ant. lib. 1. cap. 11. other hils there were , which in processe of time were added vnto the city , which partly because they were not included within the Pomoerium so soone as the other , but chiefly because they were not of such note , therefore Rome retained the name Septi-collit .i. the city vpon 7. hils . The first of those hils was called Collis hortulorum .i. the hill of gardens , so tearmed because of the many gardens neere adjoining . z z Barthol . Latomus in verrin . 7 ●m Cic. Here was the Cireque , or the shew-place of the strumpet Flora , which made the people of Rome heire to those goods which shee had gotten by prostituting her body to young gentlemen , leaving also a certaine summe of mony to procure a celebration of her birth-day : which because of her infamie the people shaming to doe , they feined her to be the goddesse of flowers , and that shee must first be appeased by sports , and plaies performed in the honour of her , before the trees and fruits of the earth would prosper . The second was called Ianiculus from Ianus that two-faced God : who , as writers testifie , was there buried . It did lie beyond the river Tiber , and now hath changed its name , being called from the yellow sands mons aureus , and through negligence of the Printer , Montorius .i. the golden mountaine . The third was famous for the many divinations , and prophecies vttered vpon it , and thence was it named Vaticanus from Vaticinium , a foretelling . a a Munster in sua cosmog. lib. 2. cap. 8. It is at this time famous for a library in it , called Bibliotheca Vaticana .

FOrum hath diverse acceptions : sometimes it is taken for a place of negociation , or marchandising , which we call a market-place ; and being taken in this sense it hath commonly some adiectiue ioined with it , as Forum boarium , the beast-market , forum piscarium , the fish-market , Olitorium forum , the hearb-market . Other times it is taken for any place , wheresoever the chiefe governour of a province doth convocate his people togither , there to giue iudgement according to the course in law : whence a man is said Forum agere , b b Hubertus in Cic. lib. 3. ep. fam. 6. when he keepeth the Assises , and Forum indicere , when he appointeth the place , where the Assises shal be kept . Thirdly it is taken for a place , where controversies in law are iudicially determined , and orations are had vnto the people . And of this sort there were c c Rosin antiq. lib. 9. c. 7. fix distinct Forums : One called Forum Iulium , because it was built by Iulius Caesar . A second was added by Octavius Augustus , called therefore Augusti Forum . The third Forum was founded by Domitian the Emperour : but by reason of his suddaine death Nerva had the finishing thereof . It had the name of Forum Transitorium , the transitorie Forum , because there was transitus .i. a way or passage through it into three severall market places . A fourth was added by the Emperour Traianus , wherein was erected a stately columne or pillar 140 cubites high , having all the noble exploits performed by Traianus engraven in it . Another was called Salustij Forum , because Salust bought it with diverse gardens adioyning , which since haue beene called horti Salustini . The last Forum , which indeed was first built , and in all respects excelled the rest , was called Forum Romanum , and Forum vetus , or by way of excellency the Forum , as if there were no other Forum . Where we must vnderstand , that as often as Forum is vsed in this latter sense , namely for a pleading place , it is so vsed figuratiuely , by the figure Synecdoche : for in truth the pleading place , wherein Orations were had , was but one part of the Forum Romanum , namely that Chappell , or great building , which they called Rostra . d d Henr. Salm in Pancirolli lib. rerum deperdit . cap. de Basil . & taber . Round about this Forum Romanum were built certaine trades-mens shoppes , which they tearmed Tabernae ; and also other stately buildings called Basilicae Pauli . Here was the Comitium , or hall of iustice ; the Rostra , .i. the Orators pulpit ; Saturnes sanctuary , or the common treasure house ; and Castors temple : of all which in their order .

COmitium f f Sig. de iud. lib. 1. cap. 7. was a part of the Forum Romanum , being a great large hall of iustice , which for a long time was open at the top having no covering , and for that reason the assemblies were often dissolved in rainy , or vnseasonable weather . In it stood the Tribunal , being a place erected vp on high in forme of our pulpits , but many degrees larger , & in the midst therof the Sella Curulis .i. the Ivory chaire , from whence the chiefe magistrate administred iustice ; other inferior magistrats fitting on benches on each side , which were called Subsellia , because they were lower than the Tribunal . Those which sate vpon these benches had power cognoscere , but not pronuntiare ; much like to our Iustices at the Assises , which may examine or informe against a malefactor , but not condemne him . Where wee may obserue the difference betweene Comitium , signifying such an edifice , or building , and Comitia , signifying the Roman assemblies : both being so called à coeundo . g g Sig. de iud lib. 1. cap. 28. In this hal did stand an Altar , vpon which the Iudges laying their hands , did take their oath to administer iustice without partiality . It was called puteal Libonis .

ANother part of the Forum was a sanctuarie built in the honour of Castor , and Pollux : the i i Sueton. in Iulio Caesare reason thereof was because they appeared vnto the Romans in the Latine warre in the likenesse of two Angels sent from heaven to lead the Roman army , and to assist the Romans against the Latines : who being vanquished , they suddenly were departed out of the field , none knowing how , & even in the same moment they appeared vpon their sweating horses vnto the Roman citizens in the Forum , who taking them for souldiers demanded what newes they brought home from the campe : they replyed that the Romans were conquerours : which newes being delivered , they suddenly vanished , and were seene no more . Vpon this occasion did A. Posthumius being at that time Dictator , build a Temple in that place of the Forum , where they were seen in honour of them both . Although in the after ages it had the name only of Castors Temple ; Whence arose the ieast of M. Bibulus against his fellow Consul Iulius Caesar , saying that it fared with him , as it did with Pollux ; .i. as this Temple which was erected in the honour of both the brethren , caried the name only of Castors Temple ; so the great expences in exhibiting shewes in the time of their Consulshippe though they went deeper on Bibulus his side , yet Caesar caried away all the thankes , and credit . Insomuch that the people being wont to subscribe the names of both Consuls at the end of their deeds , and Charters , for a remembrance of the yeare ; that yeare they wrote , Such a thing done not Bibulus , and Caesar , but Iulius and Caesar being Consuls .

SAturnes sanctuarie k k Plutarch . in Publicola . was the common treasure house , wherein the subsidie mony which the commons payd vnto the treasurers called Quaestores , was to bee laid vp : whereof divers men coniecture diversly . Alexander Neop . l l Alex. Gen. dier. l. 4. c. 15. saith , that Saturne found out the vse of brasen mony : and therefore this Temple might be thought the fittest place for the treasurie . Plutarch thinketh rather that the making of the treasurie in that place did allude to the integrity of the time , wherein Saturne raigned , being the worlds golden age . m m Alex. Gen. dier. lib. 2. c. 2. But the most receaued opinion is the strength of the place , whereby it was the safer from theeues . This temple by reason of the vse it was put vnto , was called aerarium from aes .i. brasse : which name now is common to all treasure houses ; for that the first mony vsed by the Romans was of that metall , vntill the yeare of Rome 485 ( as Pliny witnesseth lib. 3. cap. 33. ) n n Alex. Gen. dier. l. 4. c. 15. Some are of opinion , that before the vse of brasse they made money of leather : whence Numa Pompilius is said to haue given leather mony in a dole vnto the people . Touching their order observed in the treasury , wee must vnderstand that their care in providing against suddaine dangers was such , that they laid aside the twentieth part of their receits , which they o o Alex. Gen. dier. lib. 2. c. 2. called aurum vicesimarium , Incensimarium , and Cimiliarchium , into an inner chamber , or more sacred roome , named in Latine aerarium sanctius . p p Servius l. 2. Virg. Georg. Wee may read also of a third treasury called aerarium militare , wherein Augustus had appointed that the twentieth part of certaine legacies should be laid vp to defray charges in extraordinary wars : where it lay so priviledged , that it was a capitall crime to vse any of it , but in extreame , and desperate necessitie . Notwithstanding howsoever it was vsed as a treasure house , q q Alex. Gen. dier. lib 2. c. 2. yet divers authors testifie that the acts of their senate , the books of Records , together with such bookes , as were for their immeasurable bignes called libri Elephantini , wherein all the names of their Citizens were registred , and also their militarie ensignes , were contained there . r r Plutarch in suis problemat . vid. Franc. Sylvium in Catilinariam 4. And from those statute books called tabulae publicae , this treasury was also called Tabularium , because they were laid vp there .

CAmpus sceleratus , the field of execution , s s Munster . in sua Cosmog. lying withing the city , ioined to the gate Collina . It was the place , where the Vestall Nuns , if they were deflowred , suffered punishment after this manner . There t t Plutarch . in Numa . was made a Vault vnder the earth with an hole left open aboue , whereby one might go downe ; and within it there was a little couch with a burning lampe , and a few victuals : whither the defiled Votary was to be brought through the market place in a litter so closed vp with thicke leather , that her mournings might not be heard to the moving of pity . Shee being thus brought to the place of execution , was let downe by a ladder into the hollow caue , and the hole presently stopped . And the reason why they suffered such a kinde of death , was because they thought it not fit ; that shee should be burnt with fire , which kept not the sacred fire with greater sanctity . And it was thought vnlawfull to punish them by laying violent hands on them , because they had in former time served in so holy a function .

THe u u Rosin . antiq. lib. 6. c. 11 . campus Martius , otherwise called Tiberinus , because it was neere the river Tiber was given vnto the Romane people by Caïa Tarratia , a Vestall Virgin : but Tarquinius Superbus the last king of Rome did take it from the people , converting it to his own private vse : in so much that he sowed corne there , which , when he was deposed , the Romanes did cast into the river Tiber , iudging it vnfit that any man should reape any commodity from so holy a ground . In processe of time the sheaues of corn being stopped in a shallow foard of the river , became firme ground , and was called the holy Iland , or Aesculapius his Iland . And presently after the expulsion of Tarquinius , this Campus Martius was restored vnto its former vse . Beside the naturall pleasantnesse of the place it selfe , it was beautified with many ornaments brought out of the Capitol ( the Capitoll being too ful ) as likewise with divers images of well deserving men . Hither did the younger sort of Romanes come to exercise al matters of chivaldry , namely the horse-race , the foot-race , wrestling , fencing , vaulting , casting the bowle , the sledge , the dart , vsing the sling , the bow , with such like : & vpon this occasion it was dedicated to Mars , and called by Strabo , the Romanes great schoole of defence . In this field were men of best note burned , when they died . Here were the kings , & other magistrates at first created . In this x x Serv. in Bucol . eclog. 1. field of Mars also was a place at first railed , like a sheepe-pen , called therfore Ovilia , or septa ; but afterwards it was mounted with marble-stone , beautified with stately walkes , and galleries , and also with a tribunall , or seate of iustice , within which precinct the people often times assembled to giue their suffrages toward the election of magistrates . The meanes of ascending vp vnto these Ovilia was not by staires , but by many bridges made for that time ; every parish in the assembly of parishes , and every tribe , or ward in the assembly of the tribes , and every hundred in the assembly of centuries having his bridge : whence this proverbe was occasioned , de ponte deijciendus .i. he is to be barred from giving his voice , y y Ioan. Saxonius in orat pro S. Roscio . These bridges were not made over any river , but over the dry land : whence men were said to be cast , Non vt periclitarentur de vita , sed ne suffragarentur in Comitijs .

AMongst other places where the Romanes exhibited their plaies vnto the people , the most remarkeable was the great Circque , or shew-place , called in Latine Circus Maximus . It was a large peece of ground , lying neere that part of the Aventine mount , where Dianaes temple stood . It was built by Tarquinius Priscus with diverse galleries round about it , from whence the Senators , & gentlemen of the city did behold the running with great horses at lists , the fire-workes , tumbling , the baiting , and chasing of wilde beasts , &c. In former time all did stand on the ground , being sheltred from the raine by the helpe of boards vpheld with forkes in manner of house-pentices : and this custome continued vntill the aforesaid Tarquinius erected those galleries , called Fori , making thirty distinctious of them , allotting every ward or company their severall quarters all the seats being able to containe one hundred fiftie thousand parties . z z Rosin . antiq. lib. 5. c. 4. Vnder these places were cels , or vaults , where women did prostitute their bodies , and would buy stolne goods , and for this reason Horace calleth it Fallacem circum .i. the deceitfull shew-place . There was at the one end of the circque certaine barriers .i. places barred , or railed in , at which place the horses began the race ; and at the other end was the marke , whether the horses ran : it was called in Latin Meta , and the barriers carceres , à coercendo . Whence wee say à carceribus ad metam .i. from the beginning to the ending .

THE Theatre a a Ioach. Camerarius in orat . pro L. Flacco . hath his name from the Greeke verbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 .i. to behold : because the people flocked thither to behold plaies , and shewes exhibited to them . The custome b b Servius lib. 2. Virg. Geor. first sprang from sheep-heards , who leading a contemplatiue life , were wont to compose dialogues in meetre , and at their leasure to recite them vnder the trees pressed downe in forme of an arbour ; whence this theatrall tearme 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath beene derived from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a shadow . But afterward learned Poets composed Comedies , and Tragedies , which were publikely acted in the city vpon a stage : and although at the first it was counted infamous to frequent them , yet afterward the Senators themselues , yea the Emperour , and all the chiefe of Rome assembled thither . c c Alex. Gen. dier. l. 5. c. 16. Neither for a long continuance were there any seats built , but commons and nobles promiscuously one with another all stood on the ground ; insomuch that those which stood behind , raised vp places with turfes of earth , which gaue the people occasion to call the place between those turfes , and the scaffold Cavea , .i. a caue , or den : yea sometimes the people that stood there were so called from the place . Though the Theatre be now taken only for the stage , yet then by it was vnderstood all the whole roome , where these plaies were acted : and it had diverse parts , some proper to the actors , some to the spectators . To the actors belonged first the proscenium .i. the house , whence the players came , where they apparelled themselues , though sometimes it is taken for the scaffold , or stage it selfe : secondly the pulpitum , that is , the stage , or scaffold vpon which they acted : and thirdly the scena , that is , the d d Serv. lib. 3. Virg. Georg. partition , which was commonly made of wood not of hangings . Now that they might change their scene according to their pleasure , they made it either e e Servius i● . Versatilem .i. so that with engines it might vpon the sudden be turned round , and so bring the pictures of the other side into outward appearance : or otherwise ductilem .i. so that by the drawing aside of some wainscot shuttles ( which before did hide the inwarde painting ) a newe partition might seeme to be put vp . And as I thinke , because those sheepe-heards did act no more at a time , then one of our scenes , hence haue we distinguished our playes into so many parts which wee call scenes . The places which were proper to the spectators were distinguished according to their degree and place : for the remotest benches were for the commons , & called popularia ; the next for the knights , & gentlemen of Rome , called therefore Equestria ; the others , wherein the Senators did sit , were built betweene the Eguestria , and the stage in manner of a triangle , or a wedge sharpe towarde the stage and broad behinde , by reason whereof those seates were sometimes called Cunei , but more commonly Orchestra : f f De Amphitheat . cap. 14. this may be collected out of Lipsius . There was also another scaffold built quite round , made as it were of two theatres ioined togither ; It was called Amphi-theatrum , & differed from the theatre g g Pancirollus lib rerum deperditarum cap. de amphitheat . only as the full moone doth from the halfe , or a compleate rundle from a semi-circle . Vpon this kinde of scaffold , did the masters of fence play their prizes . The area , or plot of ground , wherein these scaffolds did stand , was called cavea , for the reason aboue-mentioned : & it was also called arena , which signifieth sand , or gravell , h h Lipsius de Amphitheat . cap. 3. because the ground was covered with sand , that the fencers , if any of them by chance fel of the stage , might not hurt themselues . And this gaue occasion of our Latine phrase , In arenam descendere .i. to goe into the field .

THere remaineth another place yet to bee spoken of , whereof there is frequent mention in Comical authors . It much resembleth our bridewell , or place of correction , being called in Latin pistrinum à pinsendo , from pounding . For before the vse of mils was knowne the Romanes did pound their corne in a greate mortar , calling the place where they pounded it , pistrinum . Wherevpon our hand-mil hath retained the same name to this day : & because of the great paines that men did suffer in pounding , hence grew a custome among them , that when a servant had offended , his master would menace him in this manner , In pistrinum te dedam , I will cast thee into Bride-well .

Moreover for the better vnderstanding of classicall autors , it will not bee impertinent to point at the generall names , by which their religious places were called : and to declare the proper acception of each name . The names being these , Templum , Fanum , Delubrum , Aedes sacra , Pulvinar , Sacrarium , Lucus , Scrobiculum , Ara , Altare , Focus .