Smyrna times., 1858-08-05
WHOLE NO., 384.
The Excavations in Rome.

In the Atlantic Monthly for July is the fol.
lowing account of the excavations now in nro.
gress in the Eternal CITY:
"The excavations on the Via Arn;o NJ.
winch | mentioned in former letter nrn,I1
very interesting and have already resnl,ppI ptU!e %
most important discoveries The snot ;s - ,Ln -.
second milestone outside of the 1ote of g,
Jhon Lateran. The field is on the left If ,bo
roaG gong towards Albano, and in il are sou
Graz orick tonbs OF beautiful fine work. now or
formerly used as dwellings or barns. 'O" VI
trc hrst discovery was an ancient bas;l;oo
satisfactorily ascertained TO be the one deJ;ca,o
10 ot stephen, built by Santa DemetriaW,bo
Ilrst nun-at the instigation of the Pone g,
Leo the Great, "a. d. 44O-46I.) Sir ror'
luhati' who made the discovery and directs Tho
excavations, told me at great length how he
was 'eu TO the investigation; but as he has nrb
shaiI '"Is anu hluch more IN pamphlet, which
snail send to you, will not repeat il bero
twenty-five columns have been fonr5
OF rare and beautiful marble, one of rorJo ns,'!y
co most suburb, others of Jrecoia and of c;moI;
no martnO, said to be rare, and c,rt.inI,, os'- ~
ocdu'iiui' forty bases and over tbirtv % n;,ais
VI '"liouS Styles nave also been found as u,oI1
"o dIchltectural ornaments withont numb.
nlahy OF them carved with Greek or Ro,oor
crosses. The rare and suburb fr.o,r,a'.l a.ou'"'
marble show that there must bove bean ao no.t "
ana beautiful Innings and finish There a-S
dlSo numerous inscriptions of great interest
whlch connect tins church with ilIustrons e. ~;
lies and famous martyrs. ''''
subsequently, portions of villas were onnd
WI! win lu!heu Oaths, and mOsaics and frescoas
with various pieces of sculpture. some no~cos
and OF most excellent style Tboro PeIieot'
sarcophagus, with bas-relief of Baccb;c n,o q
cesslon' remarkably fine. The govern.,er,phn.
bought all for the Museum, and intends rnn1 .'IS
ing large sum in building a basilica ovor tLc
old one in honor of ST. Stephen, 0'eF Tue
but the most remarkable discoverv ;s =,
no!'lah 'oino' by far the finest have evor go
III ts preservation and perfection. II is 49,.
ei9hteen teet square, and has been lineT oS
paVee with white marble, some of which st;Ii
remains. The lofty ceiling is covered with -. Lna
rene. 10 stucco' OF charming grace and sn;rt
representing various neurological subjects ~
square compartments, united by light and e,o
g%"t g'I AraOesques' They are really of wonder.
.Ia neII'' anu so perfectly preserved, so fresh
- seem as II done last year. A massive
marble doorway, beautifully corniced a;maS
trance to this suburb chamber. in wb7ch .,,o
iound three sarchophagi containing the bonos
OF nine bodies; which bones are left oxn""aI
oecause tney are the bones of pagansl Tboso
sarcophagl are OF speudid workmanship h..
unh9Ppny broken by former barbarism 1sp;d Ote ~
De ';I inglesl and AmericanD, have stolen two
skulls, and picked up everything nor cIosoY''
"dlChcd' opposite to this chamber is anotbas
smaller and more modest in adornment, and bx
the side OF this descend two flights of stems
perfect per- repair Many vases Of colored glass
- "" te'J "ahusome rings were found atthe
foot of these steps. This tomb is snnnosad =,
be al about one hundred and sixty of our era
-, IheSe stalrways descend from the anciert
VIA Latina which has been excavated for some
distance, and is found with wide sidewoILa
OF stone, Qava) similar to the sidewalks in por,@
peil' Inc narrow carriage- way is deeply mt
ted' which makes one think that the oi3 Re-
mans had hard pumps to contend with -0-
Another tomb, with perfect stairway. bos
been beer, discovered, but it is much more pIainw
foundations OF villas, and baths with leaden
pipes In great quantity have been exposed.
near 10 day' that the government has ordered
the excavation Of mile and a half of ,bo ia
wa Latina in this neighbOrhood, and much in.
tereStIng discovery is anticipated.