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p268 Horti Luculliani

Article on pp268‑269 of

A Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome,
London: Oxford University Press, 1929.

Horti LUCULL(I)ANI: the earliest gardens on the Pincian, laid out by L. Licinius Lucullus about 60 B.C. (Tac. Ann. XI.1). In 46 A.D. they belonged to Valerius Asiaticus and were called horti Asiatici (Cass. Dio LX.27.3). Messalina coveted them, forced Valerius to commit suicide, and seized the gardens, and was herself killed in them (Cass. Dio loc. cit.; Tac. Ann. XI.1, 32, 37). Thereafter they were regarded as among the richest of the imperial properties (Plut. Luc. 39). They were situated immediately above the point where the aqua Virgo emerged from its underground p269passage through the hill (Frontin. de aq. i.22), close to the junction of the present Vie due Macelli and Capo le Case. Their eastern boundary was probably the ancient road that crossed the Pincian from the porta Salutaris, corresponding in general with the via Porta Pinciana; their western boundary was on the slope of the hill above the Due Macelli; while their extent towards the north is unknown. From remarks of ancient writers it is known that these horti were very beautiful, and one of its halls was apparently known as Apollo (Plut. Luc. 41). Few traces of these buildings have been found (BC 1891, 153‑155; LS II.64; NA 1901, 16 Aug.; Mél. 1899, 118‑119; Homo, Aurélien 241; see Horti Aciliorum.

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