MICA AUREA IN IANICULO
a locality on the slope of the Janiculum men-
tioned in Eins. (6. 2;
Jord. ii. 343, 653), and also indicated in the names
of two early mediaeval churches-SS. Cosma e Damiano de mica aurea
(Jord. i. I. 69, 71 ; ii. xv.; Arm. 664-666; HCh 240) and S. Iohannes
in mica aurea (
Jord. ii. 343 ; Arm. 691 ;
Mel. 1914, 352-356; HCh 273).
It is probable that a mica aurea, something like that of Domitian (v. supra)
had been built on the slope of the Janiculum between S. Cosimato and
S. Pietro in Montorio, which gave its name to the immediate district
and perhaps later simply to a street (Mon.
L. i. 482; HJ 650;
RL 1909,
151). A sixth century inscription, containing the word micaurea, may
be the earliest reference to this locality, but this is very uncertain (
BC 1889, 392-397, where Gatti explains mica aurea as referring to the yellow
sand on the lower slope of the hill, comparing mons aureus=Montorio;
Mitt. 1891, 148). Another reference is to be found on a fresco in the
lower church of S. Crisogono, with the figure of one Romanus P.P. de
Mica Aurea (a good deal previous to the tenth century) (BA 1914, Cr
41 sqq.;
RAP ii. 165).
