2IO PHYSIOGRAPHY. [chap. 



of about one inch in four years, and some observers have 

 given even a more rapid rate. The ruins stand close to 

 the sea; and, as the pavement sank, the sea flowed in, 

 so that, it is said, in 1838, fish were daily caught vi'ithin 

 the temple, where, in 1807, there was not a drop of water 

 in ordinary weather. 



After what has been explained, it will be seen that the story 

 of the temple may be interpreted somewhat as follows : — 

 The present building was erected on the site of some older 

 one, the floor of which had been carried down by sinking of 

 the land. It may be fairly supposed that the pavement of 

 the new building was at the sea-level, or thereabouts. In- 

 scriptions found among the ruins prove that the temple was 

 decorated by Septimius Severus and Alexander Severus, so 

 that the building must have been in use during the third 

 century of our era. But, by subsidence below the sea-level, 

 water entered the court ; and deposits of solid matter from 

 this water were gradually thrown down around the base of 

 the pillars, mingled, at times, with layers of volcanic ashes. 

 Traces of some of these deposits may still be seen adhering 

 to the shafts, below the zone of borings (Fig. 59). As the 

 lower parts of the pillars were buried beneath these accu- 

 mulations, they were not attacked by the shell-fish which 

 burrowed into the marble during the period of greatest 

 depression. The depression was certainly gradual, but it is 

 probable that the subsequent elevation may have been more 

 rapid ; and it was, perhaps, partly effected during a violent 

 subterranean disturbance in 1538, when a mountain, still 

 called Monte Nuovo, was thrown up not far from the 

 temple. It is certain, however, that none of the move- 

 ments which have aff'ected the temple could have been 

 sufficiently violent to overturn the columns that are still 

 standing. 



