PORTA ASINARIA
a gate in the Aurelian wall on the Caelian, just south-west
of the Porta S. Giovanni (Ill. 42), through which the
VIA ASINARIA (q.v.)
passed (DMH; Procop.
BG i. 14. 14;
iii. 20. 15). This road was of no
importance, and the massiveness of the gate may be due to the vicinity
of the Lateran palace. The name is given correctly by Magister Gregorius
(
JRS 1919, 19, 46); by other writers of the Middle Ages it was called
Porta Asinaria Lateranensis (Mirab. 4) and Porta S. Johannis (GMU 88;
R ii. 406, who distorts the ancient name into Assenarica). It was closed
in 1408, but probably opened again, and not permanently closed until the
modern Porta S. Giovanni was built in 1574.
The existing structure of brick-faced concrete is not later than
Honorius. It shows traces of several changes of plan or additions in
the same material, and is one of the best preserved of all the gates. It has
two long bastions with semicircular fronts and three rows of windows,
and these bastions are flanked by square staircase towers: and above
the archway is the usual long chamber in the masonry with two rows
of windows, of which the lower interrupts an earlier embattled breastwork
(Jord. i. I. 363;
RE ii. 158 ;
PBSR iv. 42-43; Reber 535-536; T ii.
28-31;
xi. 20-27;
BC 1917, 194;
1927, 64; Discovery cit.). For a
relief which may represent it, see Lauer, Le Latran, p. 19, fig. 7.
