Capĭtōlium

, a celebrated temple and citadel at Rome on the Tarpeian rock, the plan of which was made by Tarquin Priscus. It was begun by Servius Tullius, finished by Tarquin Superb us, and consecrated by the consul Horatius after the expulsion of the Tarquins from Rome. It was built upon four acres of ground, the front was adorned with three rows of pillars, and the other sides with two. The ascent to it from the ground was by 100 steps. The magnificence and richne of this temple are almost incredible. All the consuls succe ively made donations to the capitol, and August us bestowed upon it at one time 2000 pounds weight of gold. Its thresholds were made of bra , and its roof was gold. It was adorned with ve els and shields of solid silver, with golden chariots, . It was burnt during the civil war of Marius, and Sylla rebuilt it, but died before the dedication, which was performed by Quintus Catulus. It was again destroyed in the troubles under Vitelli us; and Vespas i an, who endeavoured to repair it, saw it again in ruins at his death. Domitian raised it again, for the last time, and made it more grand and magnificent than any of his predece ors, and spent 12,000 talents in gilding it. When they first dug for the foundations, they found a man’s head called Tolius, sound and entire in the ground, and from thence drew an omen of the future greatne of the Roman empire. The hill was from that circumstance called Capitolium, a capite Toli . The consuls and magistrates offered sacrifices there, when they first entered upon their offices, and the proce ion in triumphs was always conducted to the capitol. Virgil , Æneid , bk. 6 , li. 136 ; bk. 8 , li. 347 .— Tacitus , Histories , bk. 3 , ch. 72 .— Plutarch , Publicola .— Livy , bks. 1, 10, . — Pliny , bk. 33 , . — Suet on i us , August us , ch. 40 .