These were excavated in 1832-35. They occupy the north-west corner of the Forum, and stand under the western end of the front of the Capitolium, with the wall of the AErarium and Tabularium behind them on the right, and the present sloping road up to the Capitolium and Municipium to the left. They had previously been excavated in 1547, as recorded by Lucius Faunus, and were then stripped of the marble casing of the brick walls of the lower building, with the bronze tablets and inscriptions. These inscriptions distinctly identify it with the SCHOLA XANTHI in Regio VIII. of the Regionary Catalogue. The marble steps descending to it are original, so that it was always on this low level.

The colonnade over this is that of the Dei Consentes, whose images in gilt bronze were placed between the columns. Behind these, on the higher levels, are shops, the remains of three of which are seen through the columns. Others remain under the modern road, they were cased with marble. The paved space in front was called the Area of the Dei Consentes.

The bases of these columns were in their places, and the lower part of one column. The other columns, the quasi-Corinthian capitals, which are a step in the history of architecture intermediate between the proper Classical type and the mediaeval, and the cornice, were found lying about in fragments, and were cleverly put together and restored in the time of Nibby and Canina.

The inscription also records that the images were restored by Vettius Agorius Praetextatus, who was Prefect of Rome A.D. 367, and is mentioned by contemporary writers as one of the most vigorous supporters of paganism under Julian; and this work was probably begun at that time, though not finished until a few years afterwards.

The names of the Dei Consentes are given by Ennius, (preserved by Apuleius, de deo sacratis).

p Photos., Nos. 913, 914, 1076, 2325.

John Henry Parker The archaeology of Rome. Volume II. The Forum Romanum and The Via Sacra (London: John Murray, Albemarle-Street, 1876), 2.