ITALIAN SCENERY, MANNERS, AND CUS'ro:MS.
PLATE XXI I I.
THE TEMPLE OF HERCULES.
CORE, a Uttle village three leagues beyond Velletri on the road to Naples, and thirty-five
miles from Rome, has furaislied the subject for this plate. It is not determined whether it
derive it's name of Cora, Cori, or Core, from it's being built in the shape of a heart,
core; or from Corytus, the father of Dardanus, to whom tradition or etymology ascribes it's
original foundation. It was formerly a town of Latium, inhabited by the Volsci, and was entirely
ruined by the Romans.
In spite of the opinion of some learned antiquaries, it must be avowed, that it's situation
has been always the same, and still presents to us some monuments worthy of our attention.
I t is built upon a rock, and the ancient walls completely surround it. At different distances
are platforms, whence the besieged could defend themselves, and to which they could repair
by subterraneous passages cut in the rock. The walls are built with large stones, not placed
horizontally, but irregularly, according to the shape of the stones, whatever this might be. Vitruvius,
who speaks of this kind of building, acknowledges, that it is by no means agreeable to
the eye, but praises it for it's solidity: and the Etruscans made use of it formerly to imitate nature,
as is particularly to be seen in some stone quarries, near the lake of Bolsena, where the
blocks of stone are so joined together.
Among other antiquities, which are found at Core, is a temple in the the most elevated part
of the town. It is supposed to be the temple of Hercules, on account of an inscription which
was found near the spot, though it is not certain, that it had ever formed part of the building.
Of this fabric no part of the wall is now standing, except that which included the door; but
the portico, represented in the j)latc, if we except the roof, now destroyed, exists in it's original
state, and is composed of eight columns of the Doric order: there is an inscription upon
the frieze, which states, that it was built by order of the Senate, under the direction of M. Manlius
and L. Turpilius, Duumviri, but the date is uncertain. It was not built in the time of
the Republic, because tlie Grecian style of architecture was not introduced at Rome till after
the triumph of Metellus, the conqueror of Macedonia; and besides, the orthography of the