10 THE ATRIUM VESTA. 
front of the later edicula. The pavement itself, the eastern half of which is 
raised slightly above the other, like the curbing, still preserves the earlier 
north and south orientation.t The presence of this square inclosure was 
recognized by Jordan, who, however, considered it a separate temenos, or 
precinct, and held that its orientation, like that of the temple, was due to 
Greek influence.” The rooms on the north side of the court with those on 
the east® formed the residence of the king, though this was, at least in later 
times, merely official. The rooms on the south were set aside for the Vestal 
Virgins, who were simply a part of the king’s household, assisting the regina 
in her duties as mater familias of the state. 
This whole group of buildings, called more commonly the Regia of the 
kings,* was the original Atrium Vestz. This conclusion is based upon the 
following facts. It is evident from the numerous references in literature® 
that there existed from the earliest times a building or group of buildings 
inside the precinct which was known as the Atrium Vestz. It is, moreover, 
implied, or rather assumed as known, by Servius® that this earlier building 
or group of buildings existed before and was distinct in location from the 
Atrium of the Empire, with which he was familiar. The original Atrium 
must have consisted of, or included as its most prominent feature, an open 
court, which corresponded in general style to the Atrium of the private house, 
since from this its name is obviously derived.’ This court must also have 
been of a size sufficient for the meetings of the senate,*® which numbered 
during the period with which we are concerned, from one hundred to six 
hundred members. As shown by recent excavations, the precinct of Vesta 
contained no court fulfilling these conditions except that inclosing the 
ades, which has been described above.® This court, therefore, or rather 
the group of buildings of which it was the center and to which the name 
was easily extended, was, as has been said, the earlier Atrium Vesta. The 
use of the designation Atrium for such a group of buildings is not peculiar. 
The best-known examples are the Atrium Libertatis,” the Atrium Sutorium," 
and the Atria Licinia in prima Subura.” ‘The location of the edes inside 
the Atrium finds interesting parallels in the location of the shrine of Minerva 
1 Cf. Jordan, /.c., 23, and plan B. 5 For examples see Gell., 1, 12; Ovid, /. c., vi, 263; 
2 Jordan, /.c., 83. Servius, ad Aen., vil, 153; Plin. Epist. 
3 The recognition of these rooms as a separate Vl, 19. 
structure took place much later. See p.11. Servius, /.c., Ad Atrium Veste conveniebat 
4The question as to whether the Regia and the (senatus) quod fuerat a templo remotum. 
Atrium Vestz are identical has been much The meaning of this much-disputed passage 
discussed. For principal references, see seems clear from the recent excavations. 
Ambrosch, Studien und Andeutungen, 32ff. 7 Jordan, Der Tempel der Vesta, 38f. Cf. Top., 1, 
The identification by Ovid is of especial I, 532, 533, mn. 61. Marquardt, Rém. 
interest. Fasti, vi, 263-264: Hic locus Staatsverw., U1, 159. 
qui sustinet Atria Veste Tunc erat intonsi 8 See above, n. 6 
Regia magna Numa. By aconfusion of the Pp. 9-10. 
two names arose later the designations ‘Jordan, Top., 1, 11, 460f. Richter, Top., 1of’f. 
Atrium Regium (Livy, xxvi, 27,3; xxv, Jordan, /.c., 1, 11, 452. Richter, /.c., 307. 
1, 16) and Regia Veste (Orelli, 2353). Jordan, f. c., 1; 11, 4333 I11, 331, Ue 2t- 
