ROMAN REMAINS IN BATH. 87 



In the Red Book of Bath, a memorandnm is entered by 

 some unkuown band, but of the year 1582, that there was 

 theu to be seen an epitaph of the middle ages, which is 

 given, "In ostio ruiuosi Templi, quondam Minerva dedi- 

 cati et adhuc m loco dicto, sese studiosis ofFerens.'' This 

 is also good for a tradition that such a temple once stood 

 here ; and as the writer is speaking of Stalls Church, 

 which stood near the angle of Cheap Street, and Stall 

 Street, dose to the present Pump Room, it affords the tradi- 

 tionary evidence of its site. 



As these fragments evidently belong to a fabric of great 

 extent and magnificence, such as might Avell be described 

 as " opiparo exsculpti apparatu," and as they were found 

 near the traditional site of the Tenaple of Minerva, they 

 may fairly be presumed to be the remalns of that Temple, 

 especially as the design of the Pediraent appears to point 

 at the attributes and Symbols of that Goddess. We have 

 in the centre, not the cherubic emblem of the sun, as 

 Governor Pownall regards it, but a head of Medusa, as is 

 evident from the snakes which are intermingled with the 

 hair, We have the keimet, appropriate to the Goddess in 

 her character of Pallas, and a very distinct exhibition of 

 her favourite bird, the oiol. 



" In the Pantheon," says Mr. Whitaker, " the only 

 one of the round temples remaining at present, are seven 

 niches or chapels, the entrance into every one of which is 

 ornamented with two pillars and two pilasters, Corinthian 

 and fluted. Opposite the entrance gate is the niche for the 

 great altar, as in the other parts of the circle, to the right 

 and left, are the niches for the other altars. The central 

 niche was reserved for Jupiter, as the side niches were for 

 Mars, Venus, Julius Ciiesar, and the other deities. In 

 the same manncr we believe was the temple at Bath 



