diligent researches have collected only the following circumstances; which, slight and imperfect as they are, may tend, in some degree, to illustrate the question of the populousness of ancient Rome. I. When the capital of the empire was besieged by the Goths, the circuit of the walls was accurately measured [Ammon] by Ammonius, the mathematician, who found it equal to twentyone miles.68 It should not be forgotten that the form of the city was almost that of a circle, the geometrical figure which is known to contain the largest space within any given circumference. II. The architect Vitruvius, who flourished in the Augustan age, and whose evidence on this occasion has peculiar weight and authority, observes that the innumerable habitations of the Roman people would have spread themselves far beyond the narrow limits of the city; and that the want of ground, which was probably contracted on every side by gardens and villas, suggested the common, though inconvenient, practice of raising the houses to a considerable height in the air.69 But the loftiness of these buildings, which often consisted of hasty work and insufficient materials, was the cause of frequent and fatal accidents; and it was repeatedly enacted by Augustus, as well as by Nero, that the height of private edifices within the walls of Rome should not exceed the measure of seventy feet from the ground.70 III. Juvenal" laments, as it should seem

millions in Rome. Mr. Hume (Essays, vol. i. p. 450-457), with admirable good sense and scepticism, betrays some secret disposition to extenuate the populousness of ancient times.

400.

68 Olympiodor. ap. Phot. p. 197 [fr. 43]. See Fabricius, Bibl. Græc. tom. ix. p.

69 In eâ autem majestate urbis et civium infinitâ frequentiâ innumerabiles habitationes opus fuit explicare. Ergo, cum recipere non posset area plana tantam multitudinem [ad habitandum] in urbe, ad auxilium altitudinis ædificiorum res ipsa coegit devenire. Vitruv. ii. 8. This passage, which I owe to Vossius, is clear, strong, and comprehensive.

70 The successive testimonies of Pliny, Aristides, Claudian, Rutilius, &c. prove the insufficiency of these restrictive edicts. See Lipsius, de Magnitud. Romana, I. iii. c. 4.

-Tabulata tibi jam tertia fumant;

Tu nescis; nam si gradibus trepidatur ab imis,
Ultimus ardebit quem tegula sola tuetur

A pluviâ.

Juvenal. Satir. iii. 199.

71 Read the whole third satire, but particularly 166, 223, &c. The description of a crowded insula or lodging-house in Petronius (c. 95, 97) perfectly tallies with the complaints of Juvenal; and we learn from legal authority that in the time of Augustus (Heineccius, Hist. Juris Roman, c. iv. p. 181) the ordinary rent of the several cenacula, or apartments of an insula, annually produced forty thousand sesterces, between three and four hundred pounds sterling (Pandect. 1. xix. tit. ii.

diligent researches have colle stances; which, slight and im some degree, to illustrate the ancient Rome. I. When the c by the Goths, the circuit of the [Ammon] by Ammonius, the mathematician one miles.68 It should not be f city was almost that of a circle, known to contain the largest s ference. II. The architect Vit Augustan age, and whose evidenc weight and authority, observes th of the Roman people would have the narrow limits of the city; a which was probably contracted villas, suggested the common, the raising the houses to a considera the loftiness of these buildings, v work and insufficient materials, fatal accidents; and it was repea well as by Nero, that the height walls of Rome should not exceed from the ground.70 III. Juvenal

millions in Rome. Mr. Hume (Essays, vo sense and scepticism, betrays some secret di of ancient times.

400.

68 Olympiodor. ap. Phot. p. 197 [fr. 43].

69 In eâ autem majestate urbis et civi habitationes opus fuit explicare. Ergo, cun multitudinem [ad habitandum] in urbe, ad coegit devenire. Vitruv. ii. 8. This passag and comprehensive.

70 The successive testimonies of Pliny, the insufficiency of these restrictive edicts. iii. c. 4.

-Tabulata tibi jam Tu nescis; nam si gradi Ultimus ardebit quem te A pluviâ.

71 Read the whole third satire, but par of a crowded insula or lodging-house in P the complaints of Juvenal; and we learn Augustus (Heineccius, Hist. Juris Roman several cenacula, or apartments of an i sesterces, between three and four hundred

perience, the hardships of the poorer citizens, esses the salutary advice of emigrating, without moke of Rome, since they might purchase, in f Italy, a cheerful, commodious dwelling, at the they annually paid for a dark and miserable -rent was therefore immoderately dear; the an enormous expense, the ground, which they ces and gardens; but the body of the Roman led into a narrow space; and the different ents of the same house were divided, as it is f Paris and other cities, among several families . The total number of houses in the fourteen y is accurately stated in the description of nder the reign of Theodosius, and they amount usand three hundred and eighty-two.72 The [48,392] us and of insula, into which they are divided, abitations of the capital, of every rank and e marble palace of the Anicii, with a numerof freedmen and slaves, to the lofty and use, where the poet Codrus and his wife were 1 wretched garret immediately under the tiles. ne average which, under similar circumstances, applicable to Paris,73 and indifferently allow persons for each house of every degree, we te the inhabitants of Rome at twelve hundred ber which cannot be thought excessive for the y empire, though it exceeds the populousness ties of modern Europe.74

proves at once the large extent and high value of those

composed of 1780 [1790] domus, or great houses, of 46,602 itations (see Nardini, Roma Antica, I. iii. p. 88), and these d by the agreement of the texts of the different Notitia.

500.

te writer M. de Messance, Recherches sur la Population, p. ole or certain grounds, he assigns to Paris 23,565 houses, 76,630 inhabitants.

on is not very different from that which M. Brotier, the last ii. p. 380), has assumed from similar principles; though he Tee of precision which it is neither possible nor important to ation does not differ much from that of Bunsen, for the age , and that of von Wietersheim (1,350,000). Gregorovius puts at the beginning of fifth century as low as 300,000, Hodgkin Italy and her Invaders, i. p. 814. Beloch's estimate for the D. is 800,000; see above, vol. i. Appendix 25.]