Esquilinus Mons (Esquiline Hill)

 It is derived from ex-colo (Walde, Etym. Worterb. s.v. ; cf. inquilinus, and for fanciful etymologies, Varro, LL v. 49; Ov. Fast. iii. 245), and meant ‘ an outside settlement,’ that is, the settlement on the Oppius and Cispius when that district was still beyond the limits of the Palatine city. Von Duhn’s explanation (Italische Graberkunde i. 468 sqq.) of Esquiliae as ‘ Nicht-Wohngebiet,’ i.e. necropolis, is tempting. He points out that it was devoted to this use as early as the time of the Kings, though (p. 434) he also notes that very few cremation tombs have actually been found–so far as we can gather from the insufficient reports that are the only sources of our information. In point of time its use is of course later than that of the necropolis of the forum, belonging as it does to the period after the enlargement of the Septimontium into the city of the four regions. Regio Esquilina was the second in the City of the Four Regions (Varro, LL v. 49-50), and comprised the Oppius, Cispius, Subura and Argiletum. Its eastern limit must have been the ancient necropolis which began near the present S. Martino ai Monti (KH i.). After the Servian wall was built, the eastern limit of the region probably coincided with the wall, and the adjacent district beyond was organised as the PAGUS MONTANUS (q.v.). At the end of the republic the PUTICULI (q.v.) were ultra Esquilias (Varro, LL v. 25). This region was well wooded at first, as is shown by the several luci (Fagutalis, Mefitis, Esquilinus, Lucinae) within its limits.