Wanderings in the Roman campagna . nsheltered is the only explanation we can give of the fact thatthe whole coast from the Vicus Augustanus to Lauren-tum, and even beyond in the direction of Ardea, is linedwith these bath-hous,es, a few of modest size and capa-ble of accommodating only two or three dozen clients;others so vast in their plan, so rich in their decoration,that they appear like city structures, ready to receivegreat crowds of bathers. Pliny speaks of this curiousstate of aftairs on the coast of Laurentum in his letterto Gallus. The description which he gives is so true,
Wanderings in the Roman campagna . nsheltered is the only explanation we can give of the fact thatthe whole coast from the Vicus Augustanus to Lauren-tum, and even beyond in the direction of Ardea, is linedwith these bath-hous,es, a few of modest size and capa-ble of accommodating only two or three dozen clients;others so vast in their plan, so rich in their decoration,that they appear like city structures, ready to receivegreat crowds of bathers. Pliny speaks of this curiousstate of aftairs on the coast of Laurentum in his letterto Gallus. The description which he gives is so true,and is substantiated so clearly by the discoveries of thelast three campaigns, that it is necessary to quote itin extenso. Nothing is wanting to make the Lauren-tinum perfect but spring water, although one is alwavssure to find drinkable water a few inches below thelevel of the sands, fresh enough in spite of the proxim-ity of the sea. The forests on the other side of the roadsupply me with fuel, and Ostia with all the necessaries. CAST OF QUEEN ELENAS DISCOBOLUS Completed by the addition of tlie arm from Florence, the head from tlie Louvre,and the feet from the British Museum THE LAND OF PLINY THE YOUNGER 327 of life. However, for a man of simple habits the nearestvillage [the Vicus Augustanus] is equally useful; it con-tains among other commodities tliree public baths, ofwhich I avail myself whenever I happen to reach thevilla unexpected and 1 have no time to wait for thefurnace to be lighted. The whole coast is lined withvillas, some adjoining one another, some separated bygardens. Seen from the water it looks like a city manymiles long. The largest and best of the three baths of which Plinywas an occasional patron has just been excavated, andalthough it appears to have been repaired and slightlyaltered in the second and third centuries, its main hallsand basins date from before the age of Pliny. Here wehave, therefore, a building which has echoed with hisvoice and
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