[ i6 9 ] 
worlhippers by bathing or walhing. This laft de- 
ftination is countenanced, with regard to the cham- 
ber on the north-weft and that on the north-eaft cor- 
ner, by the row of ftone feats, which ftiil remains on 
each of the fides of the former. Thefe feats have a 
gutter, or channel running along at the foot of them 
on the floor ; and are likewife perforated with holes of 
a proper fize, with funnels palling from them below. 
On thefe benches probably the perfons to be purified 
placed themfelves, that the water might be let out 
upon them from pipes ; or adminiftred in vafes or 
ewers by the attendants, and afterwards be carried 
off by the paflage6 mentioned above (7). 
Nor can a provifion for walhing or bathing in this 
temple feem ftrange to any one, who reflects, how 
high a rank this mode of purification held among 
the religious ceremonies of almoft all nations of the 
world. As for the Romans, with whom we are princi- 
pally concerned in the prefent inquiry, the fubfiftence 
of this ufage among them might be abundantly fhewn 
by the teftimonies of their writers ; and all’o by the 
accommodations provided for it in other buildings of 
the fame character with that before us. Some of 
thefe ftiil remain within the neighbourhood of Poz- 
zuolo, viz. the magnificent temple near the lake of 
Avernus afcribed to Apollo, which has an apartment 
adjoining to it indifputably intended for the purpofe 
(7) Meff. Cochin and Bellicard feem to think this room was in- 
tended for another purpofe, by their calling the funnels under the 
holes in the feats of it, conduits des fojfts d'aifance. Which of the 
two hypothefis’s is to be preferred, I fubmit to the judgment of the 
learned ; or rather, whether both of them may not be admitted, 
as in no-wife incompatible the one with the other. 
Vol. 50. Z 
intimated 
