The
Monument Of Cecilia Metella, Commonly Called Capo Di Bove, Is
Without The Walls On The Via Appia.
This lady was daughter of
Metellus Creticus, and wife to Crassus, who erected this noble
monument to her memory.
It consisted of two orders, or stories,
the first of which was a square of hewn stone: the second was a
circular tower, having a cornice, adorned with ox heads in basso
relievo, a circumstance from which it takes the name of Capo di
Bove. The ox was supposed to be a most grateful sacrifice to the
gods. Pliny, speaking of bulls and oxen, says,
Hinc victimae optimae et laudatissima deorum placatio.
They were accounted the best Victims and most agreeable to
appease the anger of the Gods.
This tower was surmounted by a noble cupola or dome, enriched
with all the ornaments of architecture. The door of the building
was of brass; and within-side the ashes of Cecilia were deposited
in a fluted marble urn, of curious workmanship, which is still
kept in the Palazzo Farnese. At present the surface of the ground
is raised so much as to cover the first order of the edifice:
what we see is no more than the round tower, without the dome and
its ornaments; and the following inscription still remains near
the top, facing the Via Appia.
CAECILLAE
Q. CRETICI F.
METELLAE
CRASSI.
To Caecilia Metella, Daughter of Q. Criticus: wife of Crassus.
Now we are talking of sepulchral inscriptions, I shall conclude
this letter with the copy of a very singular will, made by
Favonius Jocundus, who died in Portugal, by which will the
precise situation of the famous temple of Sylvanus is
ascertained.
"Jocundi.
Ego gallus Favonius Jocundus P. Favoni F. qui bello contra
Viriatum Succubui, Jocundum et Prudentem filios, e me et Quintia
Fabia conjuge mea ortos, et Bonorum Jocundi Patris mei, et eorum,
quae mihi ipsi acquisivi haeredes relinquo; hac tamen conditione,
ut ab urbe Romana huc veniant, et ossa hic mea, intra
quinquennium exportent, et via latina condant in sepulchro, jussu
meo condito, et mea voluntate; in quo velim neminem mecum, neque
servum, neque libertum inseri; et velim ossa quorumcunque
sepulchro statim meo eruantur, et jura Romanorum serventur, in
sepulchris ritu majorum retinendis, juxta volantatem testatoris;
et si secus fecerint, nisi legittimae oriantur causae, velim ea
omnia, quae filijs meis relinquo, pro reparando templo dei
Sylvani, quod sub viminali monte est, attribui; manesque mei a
Pont. max; a flaminibus dialibus, qui in capitolio sunt, opem
implorent, ad liberorum meorum impietatem ulciscendam;
teneanturque sacerdotes dei Silvani, me in urbem referre, et
sepulchro me meo condere. Volo quoque vernas qui domi meae sunt,
omnes a praetore urbano liberos, cum matribus dimitti,
singulisque libram argenti puri, et vestem unam dori. In
Lusitania. In agro VIII. Cal Quintilis, bello viriatino."
I, Gallus Favonius Jocundus, son of P. Favonius, dying in the war
against Viriatus, declare my sons Jocundus and Prudens, by my
wife Quintia Fabia, joint Heirs of my Estate, real and personal;
on condition, however, that they come hither within a time of
five years from this my last will, and transport my remains to
Rome to be deposited in my Sepulchre built in the via latina by
my own order and Direction:
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