It had two summits; that on the south retained the name Tarpeian;[12] the northern was properly the Capitol.13.On this part of the hill Romulus first established his asylum, in a sacred grove, dedicated to some unknown divinity; and erected a fort or citadel[13] on the Tarpeian summit.

The celebrated temple of Jupiter Capitoli'nus, erected on this hill, was begun by the elder Tarquin, and finished by Tarquin the Proud.

It was burned down in the civil wars between Ma'rius and Syl'la, but restored by the latter, who adorned it with pillars taken from the temple of Jupiter at Olympia.

It was rebuilt after similar accidents by Vespa'sian and Domitian, and on each occasion with additional splendour.

The rich ornaments and gifts presented to this temple by different princes and generals amounted to a scarcely credible sum.