Campbell, Elizabeth (1783 – 1861) – Italy; Lazio, ‘Norma’. ‘Ruins of Norba’ / ‘Monte Cerella / Pontine Marshes’.

EXTRACT FROM THE ARTIST'S JOURNAL: The remains of the ancient Norba, a Greek Town, situated on the summit of the precipitous cliffs of the Monta Lepini, were formed & which we were to ascend. Having been told Norba remained in the greatest state as a town abandoned by the Greeks, our imagination had pictured what it would be - a long line of enormous walls, which at the immense height above it, seemed only a wall, was all I could see, but the extent of it when after the attempt to cross the precipices, crags & among every piece advanced up the steep & wretched path, became at pieces so like what appeared had been for support to each, & were fine specimens of the immense size of the stones, rather pieces of rock held into position, and which had attained the name of Cyclopean for their astonishing works of man, and before man. Specimens these Cyclopean walls at Livia, & Valmontone, & Ferentino, & Arpino are excellent of the finest kind. The Norba rocks even attained their present places, in addition to the perfect state of the walls, & the whole remains still in perfect shape - mass above mass, each fitting the other, has remained up to the present day & for thousands of years. As we continued our ascent the northern Roman wall became discernible & of very simple & less gigantic work. Of a more massive kind of Monte Circeio, the slabs of coral reef with which it is constructed gives the pink colour to their walls which distinguishes the two models of work - the earlier Greek, the latter Roman. Near the centre was a model town, three circles of walls - the inner one the citadel, spiral of stones occupied of most debate. If you descend the enclosed space by steps, the first I have allotted of remains of the Norba - we observed only remains of two circles, but of a fine slope & seats - the other still entirely perfect & a narrow passage which had its open outlets to the wall, & fixed as one led into the citadel. It now bears the appearance of a drain, but is much larger than is usual for that purpose, & finished with highly ornamented work of great labor. Reservoirs for water clearly within the rock in which it was excavated, one its use, such being open called the baths. The water in this part of the year was pure & pleasant. A square excavation was called a garden. The water was not refreshed by a spring & therefore which is attributed to have once had a proper source. Had been inhabited since the Greeks. The circle of the walls we were told extended three miles besides not for any other particulars. 9th April 1826.

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