Forma Urbis marmorea. Nuove considerazioni sui segni impiegati per la rappresentazione degli elevati negli edifici pubblici e privati

One of the most controversial issues involved in interpretation of the marble fragments of the Severan Forma Urbis Romae is a matter of deciphering the signs used to indicate the height of buildings (parallel incised lines and V-shaped symbols). In the past, various contributions had already focused on this topic, and the majority of scholars agree that both signs indicate the presence of stairs. However, no uniform interpretation of these symbols has yet been reached, nor has complete quantification of these symbols been carried out on the Forma Urbis Romae. This paper presents a quantitative tabulation of these symbols, dedicating particular attention to the context of their use in public and private buildings. It proposes new interpretations for the possible meaning of the V-shaped symbol, and new hypotheses regarding the discrepancy between the height symbols in the Forma Urbis Romae and the evidence from ancient literary sources.