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.
