68 ARCHITECTURE. 
lum, and, falling into decay, was rebuilt of marble by the consul Avmilius 
Lepidus, 32 years s.c. One hundred years later, it was injured by the 
Tiber, and restored by Tiberius and by Antoninus Pius. But in the year 
791 of the Christian era, it fell in entirely. Some of its piles are yet visible 
in the Tiber. Jig. 15 represents a part of the Bridge of Senators. It led 
from the Roman Forum towards the Janiculum, and was the first stone bridge 
in Rome. It was built in the 127th year of our era, by Marcus Fulvius 
Flaccus. It was 500 feet long, 40 feet broad, and was destroyed in the year 
1598. Only three arches. remain, known ie the name of Ponte Sotto. | 
Before its destruction it was ealled! Ponte Santa Maria Egiziaca. 
C. The Period of the Emperors. 
The present epoch embraces the history of architecture in Rome under 
the Roman emperors, up to the decline of art under Constantine the Great. 
The theatre of art is now mainly Rome and Rome alone. Rome is its cen- 
tre. The chief structures were erected, and whatever was done in the pro- 
vinces received its impulse and reward from the emperor. So long as the 
empire was powerful, art maintained itself at the highest point. Its decline 
dates from the two Antonines, and then is more striking in the spiritual 
than physical regard. Colossal works yet arose, but no longer in the spirit 
of the epochs of Augustus, Trajan, and Hadrian. The technicality of art 
held its ground, but already the spirit was visibly declinmg. Of all the 
greatness of the Augustan age, nothing but the appearance remained in that 
of Constantine, and in nothing was decay so evident as in works of art. 
We shall now proceed to mention the architectural enterprises of the 
various emperors, and begin with 
1. Aveustus. The battle of Actium, 31 years B. c., determined the univer- 
sal dominion of Octavius Cesar, who assumed, later, the name of Augustus. 
The Roman rule, enormously extended, could no longer exist as a republic. 
A series of civil struggles preceded the momentous change, and showed that 
weary mankind could rest and refresh itself only under the rule of one man. 
Augustus exercised with moderation the power that had fallen to him, and 
under him Rome enjoyed a repose and prosperity which were unknown to 
the earlier Romans. During his reign of 43 years peace was disturbed only 
at a distance, and there were few military troubles. Augustus improved 
this peace and his great resources to adorn the metropolis, encouraging 
all his friends to a similar occupation. 
We have already mentioned the buildings erected before the empire by 
Augustus and his friend M. Agrippa, his son-in-law and heir. 
When Octavianus Cesar returned victorious from Egypt, 30 years B. c., the 
senate and the people erected to him a gate of honor at Brundusium, where 
ne landed, and a second upon the Roman forum. <A year afterwards he 
dedicated the Curia Julia and the temple (the Heroon) of Julius Cesar. 
Some hold the columns yet standing upon the Forum, which we, with 
others, have attributed to the temple of Jupiter Stator, to be the remains of 
this temple. Besides the Curia Julia the unfinished Basilica Julia was 
68 
