After The Mausolea Of Augustus, And Adrian, Which I Have Already
Mentioned, The Most Remarkable Antient Sepulchres At Rome, Are
Those Of Caius Cestius, And Cecilia Metella.
The first, which
stands by the Porta di S. Paolo, is a beautiful pyramid, one
hundred and twenty feet high, still preserved intire, having a
vaulted chamber within-side, adorned with some ancient painting,
which is now almost effaced.
The building is of brick, but eased
with marble. This Caius Cestius had been consul, was very rich,
and acted as one of the seven Epulones, who superintended the
feasts of the gods, called Lectisternia, and Pervigilia. He
bequeathed his whole fortune to his friend M. Agrippa, who was so
generous as to give it up to the relations of the testator. 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.
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