Nomitius stood on the low wall of stone that was laid to surround the villa taking shape within the enclosure. His eyes traced the outline of the stone wall that ran off for a hundred cubits before turning a sharp corner and disappearing behind the tall stone walls of the villa itself. He had overseen the construction of several of these grand villas, but they were usually on mountaintops and difficult to reach. Huge building blocks and all the instruments of construction had to be drawn up steep inclines, rocky slopes and hills chosen by the rich owner as security against attack.
This villa was located on a low hill, in a valley between larger hills. The choice of such a low spot indicated that the owner, Proculus Populonius, governor of Trinacrium, did not fear attack. Nomitius laughed
