File:Capital 08.jpg

English: To determine the original position of a third figured capital, we can turn to a photograph datable to 1866-69, the years when the three capitals were found. We recognise our capital, in the eastern part of the frigidariumm upended, after being knocked down, perhaps by an earthquake; opposite are two grey granite columns (from eastern Egypt), which originally separated the large chamber from the adjacent room, from ehich comes the capital that, together with three other similar, perhaps identical ones (now lost), decorated the short sides of the frigidarium. On the two opposite faces, with one originally facing towards this chamber, the other towards the adjacent room, the capital is decorated with cupids (or Genii) with festoons in their hand: the first of fruits, the sevcond of oak leaves. The less highly finished surface of the Genius that holds this festoon suggests this side must have been less visible and therefore probably faced the room adjacent to the frigidarium, which was in dimmer light than the latter large chamber. Hence, the Genius with the festoon of fruit must have been turned towards the frigidarium. This figure recalls the many representations of the seasons on more or less coeval sarcophagi, also of the type of Genii or cupids, but without the wings of the god or love and with the attrbutes of the four seasons of the year (flowers, wheat, fruits, etc.) The iconographic affinity and the fact that the set of capitals to which it originally belonged compromised four specimens suggests the possibility, at least conjectually, that they represented the four seasons. In ancient times they could also symbolise the felicitas temporum, a period of happiness ensured, in this case, by the emperor's magnanimity and munificence. This may have been the message it intended to convey to the public who, thanks to these virtues in their ruler, frequented the splendid Baths free of charge every day.