6 THE ATRIUM VESTA. 
The Atrium of the Second Period: Within a few years after the erection 
of the first imperial Atrium, it suffered considerable injury from fire. The 
reconstruction following this partial destruction constitutes the second stage 
in the history of the building.” From literary evidence* we know that in 
the reign of Vespasian the Templum August: fell a prey to the flames. Since 
the injury to the Atrium of which we have just spoken was, so far as can be 
ascertained from the walls now standing,‘ confined largely to the rooms on 
the west and southwest,’ it is probable that it was the result of this same 
conflagration, which, entering the building from the direction of the temple 
of Augustus, swept over this part of it only. From the coins of the Flavian 
emperors’ it is clear that the temple of Vesta was at some time either partly 
or entirely rebuilt by them. Since there is no reference to any injury to the 
temple during this period, or to any other calamity befalling this part of the 
city which might have caused its destruction except that just mentioned, 
we may safely assume that the rebuilding of the temple indicated by the 
coins, and the restoration of the Atrium which very naturally accompanied 
it, were necessitated by the injury wrought by this fire. To this presumptive 
evidence is added the indisputable evidence afforded by the masonry of the 
building, which is of the same type as that of the numerous other buildings 
of the Flavian emperors, especially of Domitian.’ To this time, therefore, 
we may assign the imperial Atrium of the second period.® 
The Atrium of the Third Period: There is no evidence, either direct or 
indirect, of any further change in the Atrium until the second century, 
when with the growing luxury of the times there arose the necessity for a 
more extensive establishment. To satisfy this necessity it is probable that 
the group of rooms on the east® was added. At the same time on the south 
there was built, in the tablinum of the earlier Atrium, a smaller group of 
rooms.” The Atrium so enlarged we have called the Atrium of the third 
period. Concerning the exact time at which these additions were made, the 
proofs are simple and decisive. ‘The new rooms on the south are, as will be 
The irregular manner in which certain of the walls 
have been repaired indicates destruction by 
fire rather than intentional demolition. For 
the extent of the injury, see plan B and pp. 
21ff. 
2 Plan B. 
* Plin., N..H., xt1, 94 
“Cf. plans A and B. For further discussion, see 
ote 
5 The outer walls on the north, which are standing 
to a considerable height, show no sign of 
restoration at this time. Those on the south- 
east are in part restored. The exact extent 
of this restoration can not at present be 
determined. It is, however, clear that it 
was by no means as complete as that of the 
western part of the building. 
®Coins bearing representations of the temple: 
Cohen, Vespasien, 577-581; Titus, 347-351; 
Domitien, 613-616. Coins referring to the 
goddess or to the cult: /.¢., Vespasien, 572- 
576; Titus, 340-346; Fulie, fille de Titus, 
15-18; Domitien, 611-612. The represen- 
tation of the temple on these coins differs 
from that on the coins of Nero, suggesting 
an entire rebuilding of the temple and not 
the completion of a structure already begun. 
7 See pp. 27-28. 
8 Huelsen holds correctly that the Templum Augusti 
as it now stands is the work of Domitian. 
The restoration of the Atrium by him is 
therefore more probable. 
‘Plan C,29-39- 
®Plan C)13) 2, 8; ¢, a: 
