Page:Historical Works of Venerable Bede vol. 2.djvu/228

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
156
THE MINOR HISTORICAL WORKS

OF

THE SEVEN WONDERS

OF

THE WORLD.

THE FIRST.

Capitol of Rome. Of the seven wonders of the world,[1] made by the hand of man, the first is the Capitol at Rome, the very salvation of the inhabitants, and greater than a whole city. In it were statues of the nations subdued by the Romans, or images of their gods, and on the breasts of the statues were inscribed the names of the nations which had been conquered, with bells hanging from their necks. Priests or watchmen attended on these by turns, day and night, and showed much care in watching them. If either of them should move, the bell made a noise, and so they knew what nation was rebelling against the Romans. When they knew this, they communicated the information by word of mouth or by writing to the Roman princes, that they might know against what nation they were next to turn the Roman arms.

  1. * The modern enumeration of the wonders of the world is thus:—I. The Pyramids of Egypt. II. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon. III. The Temple of Diana. IV. The Mausoleum of Artemisia. V. The Colossus of Rhodes. VI. The Statue of Jupiter Olympius. VII. The Pharos of Alexandria.