
IV. 
THE IMPERIAL ATRIUM OF THE SECOND PERIOD. 
General Description: A short time only after the completion of the new 
Atrium by Nero, a considerable part of it was destroyed by fire. In con- 
sequence of this partial destruction many of the walls of the building were 
rebuilt from the foundations and extensive changes were made in its general 
plan. From the walls which remain it is evident that the western part of 
the structure suffered most severely. The exact period of the restoration of 
the walls, on the south side of the building, east of the tablinum?® is uncer- 
tain. The wall west of the tablinum was, however, at this time rebuilt from 
about 3 meters above the ground.* On the north side the wall next to the 
court* and the division walls between the rooms,’ with the exception of 
one, were destroyed to the level of the later pavement. The back wall 
of the rooms,® on the contrary, and @ke walls of the shops beyond’ were 
left untouched, at least to a considerable distance above the ground. It 
is possible, therefore, that the destruction of the other walls® on this side 
was partly due to the changes in the general plan of the building, which 
took place at this time. The rooms on the northeast beyond the court® 
were not, so far as can now be ascertained, affected by these changes. It 
is probable, therefore, that the fire did not extend so far in this direction. 
Many pieces of marble showing traces of fire were found, in the course of 
the excavations, in and near the pozz: at this end of the court. These may 
~ have been, however, from some more remote part of the building or have 
been injured in some later fire.” The rooms on the west" were, it is probable, 
wholly destroyed, since the walls are rebuilt from the foundations.” Whether 
the foundations themselves belong to this or to the preceding period can not 
be determined, except in a few cases, since they are for the most part con- 
cealed by later structures. The changes in plan on the north side of the 
building suggest, however, a corresponding change in the arrangement on 
this side also. New foundations would in that case have been required. 
1Plan B. Cf. plan A. 
2 Plan B, 13. 
The line is plainly marked by the change in 
brickwork. 
4 Cf. plans A and B. 
5 Plan A, 1-7. 
6 Cf. plans A and B. 
7 Plan B, m—m, 
8 The wall next to the court and the division walls 
between the rooms. 
® Plan B, 8-9. 
10See p. 43. 
Plan B, 15-28. The arch in which was found a 
brick-stamp of the second century mentioned 
by Huelsen (Roem. Mitth., 1889, p. 246, n.) 
may very well have belonged to a later restor- 
ation. 
The outer wall on the west, though in large part 
restored at this time, was not wholly de- 
stroyed. 
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