Ten Books on Architecture (De Architectura)

and was entirely different from him, as we almost necessarily prove with two arguments passed over by Philandrier. First, that inferior architects placed denticulos small teeth/dentils under mutulis projecting blocks/modillions everywhere, as can be seen in the arches of Titus, Nerva, and Constantine, in the portico of that same Nerva, and in the Baths of Diocletian, all of which buildings we know openly were constructed by architects of a later age. Secondly, because it appears that the Veronese Cerdo was the freedman of L. Vitruvius, which is gathered even from the inscription itself, in which, as has been seen, we read, L. VITRUVIUS L. L., that is, Lucius Vitruvius, freedman of Lucius. That ours was a free man, and liberally educated, we shall show more clearly in the progress of what we are about to say, with him as witness. Furthermore, as far as our architect's fatherland is concerned, we judge the conjecture that he was from Fundi or Formiae not entirely to be despised. Indeed, that the Vitruvius family was powerful and numerous in those places in ancient times, the old stones bear witness not obscurely, some of which, although incorrectly transcribed, Leander records in his Italia Geography of Italy. But also the Frenchman Villamont in his itinerary, more correctly [cites] this among others:

This monument of Marcus Vitruvius Mempilis, heir [to his] estate.

In others, however, there is a frequent repetition of the praenomen M. and the Vitruvii. We wished these things to be said, lest, having omitted this, whatever indication it may be, we should seem to the reader studious of antiquity and truth to have been negligent. Furthermore, that he was liberally and honorably instructed from early adolescence by the diligence of his parents, he himself openly professes in the preface to the sixth book in these words:

"Therefore I owe and have infinite gratitude to my parents, who, approving the law of the Athenians, saw to it that I was educated in an art, and in those [subjects] which cannot be approved without literature and the encyclio comprehensive discipline of all the sciences. Therefore, when I had the abundance of disciplines increased both by the care of my parents and by the teachings of my masters, I was delighted by philological and technical matters, and by the writings of commentaries—