JANICULUM, or JANICULARIS, a hill of ancient Rome, added by Ancus Martius; the burial place of Numa, and of Statius Cæcilius the poet: to the east and south, having the Tiber; to the west, the fields; to the north, a part of the Vatican. So called, either from an ancient city, (Virgil); or because it was a janua, or gate, from which to issue out and make incursions on the Tuscan, (Vernus Flaccus.) Now called Monte Aureus, corruptly Montorium, from its sparkling sands. From this hill, on account of its height, is the most extensive prospect of Rome: but it is less inhabited, because of its gross air; neither is it reckoned among the seven hills. Hither the people retired, and were hence afterwards recalled by Q. Hortensius the dictator, (Pliny.)