Capitolīnus
1.
A surname of Iupiter, from his temple on the Mons Capitolinus.
2.
A surname of M.
Manlius (q.v.), who, for his
ambition in aspiring to sovereign power, was thrown down from the Tarpeian Rock, which he had
so nobly defended (
Flor.i. 13 and 26).
3.
Mons, one of the seven hills on which Rome was built, containing
the citadel and fortress of the Capitol. (See
Capitolium.) Three ascents led to its summit from below. (
a) By
the 100 steps of the Tarpeian Rock, which was probably on the steepest side, where it
overhangs the Tiber. (
b) The Clivus
Capitolinus, which began from the Arch of Tiberius and the Temple of Saturn, near the
modern Hospital of the Consolazione, and led to the citadel by a winding path. (
c) The Clivus Asȳli, which, being
less steep than the other two, was, on that account, the road by which the triumphant
generals were borne in their cars to the Capitol. This ascent began at the Arch of Septimius
Severus, and from thence, winding to the left, passed near the ruined pillars of the Temple
of Concord, and from thence led to the Intermontium. The Capitoline Hill is said to have been
previously called Saturnius, from the ancient city of Saturnia, of which it was the citadel.
Afterwards it was known by the name of Mons Tarpeius, and finally it obtained the appellation
first mentioned, from the circumstance of a human head (
caput) being
discovered on its summit, in making the foundations of the Temple of Iupiter. It was
considered as forming two summits, which, though considerably depressed, are yet sufficiently
apparent. That which looked to the south and the Tiber was the Tarpeian Rock or citadel, the
other, which was properly the Capitol, faced the north and the Quirinal. The space which was
left between these two elevations was known by the name of Intermontium. See
Roma.
