266 Mr Forbes's Physical Notices of the Bay of Naples. 



were found in theexcavation of the temple, at the base of the pil- 

 lars of the Atrium. Strange to say I have not found copies of 

 them in any of the numerous works I have consulted. We have* 

 already observed the attachment of Marcus Aurelius to the 

 worship of Serapis ; and Elius Spartianus particularly men- 

 tions the name of Septimus Severus. The temple, therefore, 

 as it finally stood, cannot have been completed before the 

 close of the second century, — a date agreeing very well with 

 the opinion of those who have reasoned upon the style of \U 

 architecture.* 



I shall now say a few words upon what is known or con- 

 jectured of the history of the temple during the middle ages, 

 and of its re-discovery ; then shortly describe the form and 

 parts of the temple ; and conclude in a more detailed manner 

 with an account of the natural phenomena exhibited by the 

 ruins, and the inductions they furnish, to which the previous 

 historical discussions will be found of importance. 



Many dates might be proposed for the period of the ruin 

 of the temple. The horrors of war and of natural convulsions 

 have frequently been wrecked on the town of Pozzuoli. In 

 A. D. 456 it was ruined by Alaric ; in 545 by Genseric, and sub- 

 sequently by Totila; by Romualdo II. Duke of Benevento 

 in 715 ; the eruption of the Solfatara occurred in 1198 ; f an 

 earthquake in 1488 ; J and in 1538 the Monte Nuovo, a con- 

 siderable hill within a short distance, was thrown up by a vol- 

 canic explosion in little more than a-day and a-night. Proba- 

 bly to some of the earlier barbarian irruptions must be ascribed 

 the ruin of the temple ; but we have not sufficient data for im- 

 puting its interment by the volcanic matter out of which it was 

 dug, to any other event than the eruption of 1198 or else that 

 of 1538. A moment's consideration must induce us to prefer 



* I have not had an opportunity of stating, that there can be no doubt of 

 the application of the inscription of the seventh century of Rome to the par- 

 ticular temple of Serapis under consideration, as the Decuriones of Puteoli 

 are in the after part of the inscription specially referred to as the supe- 

 riors of the work. 



t See last No. p. 127. 



4: As stated by Capaccio, {Antichiid di Pozzuob, p. 121, 1652.) In a 

 later author I find it called 1458. In another 1448. 



