Peace, until Piranesi contended that they are part of Nero's Golden
House. Others suppose that they are the remains of a Basilica. A
beautiful fluted Corinthian column, forty-seven feet high, which was
removed from this spot, and now stands before the church of S. Maria
Maggiore, gives a great idea of the splendour of the original structure.

[751] This temple, converted into a Christian church by pope Simplicius,
who flourished, A.D. 464-483, preserves much of its ancient character.
It is now, called San Stefano in Rotondo, from its circular form; the
thirty-four pillars, with arches springing from one to the other and
intended to support the cupola, still remaining to prove its former
magnificence.

[752] This amphitheatre is the famous Colosseum begun by Trajan, and
finished by Titus. It is needless to go into details respecting a
building the gigantic ruins of which are so well known.

[753] Hercules is said, after conquering Geryon in Spain, to have come
into this part of Italy. One of his companions, the supposed founder of
Reate, may have had the name of Flavus.

[754] Vespasian and his son Titus had a joint triumph for the conquest
of Judaea, which is described at length by Josephus, De Bell. Jud. vii.
16. The coins of Vespasian exhibiting the captive Judaea (Judaea capta),
are probably familiar to the reader. See Harphrey's Coin Collector's
Manual, p. 328.

[755] Demetrius, who was born at Corinth, seems to have been a close
imitator of Diogenes, the founder of the sect. Having come to Rome to
study under Apollonius, he was banished to the islands, with other