Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1860-06-28

ical architecture-the wonder al
admiration of all. have just close
a week of excursions among the,
old ruins, in company of three e
v thusias,ic Americans, equally yea
in GUS with myself in viewing the wol
h ders Of he old world, aud turnin
IS over the rubbish of by gone age
% One of these / have taken as ira,
IT cling companions very clever boy
% ninteen years of age; he came fror
n Boston alone, and without expert
). ence, prompted by the Yankee de
:. termination to see som ething of tn
J. world. | have taken a fancy to th,
Z young man, and shall keep him will
( me. | tell him be is very fortunate
under my protection; for he cannot
r speak word Of any foreign Ian
guage.
1 Our first excursion was to visit the
ruins Of ancient PAEsTUM on the sea
shore, some fifty miles from Naples.
1t is supposed to have been in its
glory about six hundred years be.
fore the Christian Eta. The most
interesting ruins are the walls, amphi-
theatre and three pagan temples, in
an excellent state of preservation.
The temples OF NEPTUNE and VEsTA
are nearly entire, and are most noble
structures of Grecian architecture in
its purest style-surrounded ty
coionnades of massive tuscan col
umns. 1t is said that these mag
nificent ruins, with the exception of
those at ATHENS, are the most stri-
king existing records Of the genius
whichinspired the architects Of Greece.
and are considered the most venera-
bic examples OF classical architecture
in Italy. The origne of this city is
unknown to history and ages have
passed since it became a desolats
ruin. At PozzUoLI and ancient CAPUA,
the former six, and the latter thirty
miles from Naples, are the remains
of other ruined cities, contemporaries
and even rivals Of Rome, when at
the zenith Of her glory. The for
mer was destroyed by an earth
quake and volcanic eruptions. The
most interesting relics now shown
to visisors, are the ancient amphi-
theatre and the temple Of JUPITER
SERApIs which was very large; some
of the huge corinthian columns
being still. erect, made of single
blocks Of marble, over forty feet in
in height: it was lined with marble
and richly decorated. The vases for
holding the lustral waters, grooves
for conducting the blood of the :
victims slain for the sacrifice, and {
large metallic rings to which the an
imals were tied, are still to be seen. {
The pavement iuclins towards the
centre. where there is a perforated
Stone for carrying Of the blood
This was, unquestionably. among the :
finest Of heather temples-one of 8
the grandest structures dedicated to a
The worship of Pagan Gods. But 5
heir worship was suppressed in this |
md all others in the Empire upon |
he conversion Of the Emperor |
Constantine to Christianity. The
physical changes wrought in this To-
,ality are peculiarly interesting, {
ind consists in the sinking and rising s
&c the earth at different periods L
caused, no doubt, by earthquakes and I
7olcanic up heavings so common in
his region. This temple has sunk, ,
n time past. some twenty feet below !
is original level, indicated by. water /,
marks on the standing columns :
half way from their base TO the cap !
tails, and must have remained SUBJ :
merged by the sea for centuries: !;
subsequently they have been eleva- + !
ed entirely above the water, and are :
1ow. said to be gradually sinking :
again at the rate Of about quarter
If an inch annually. Thus you see
o what precarious state the cities =
md inhabitants Of this whole region $
exist threatened by earthquakes \
without and sea of liquid pent up t
ire beneath their habitations. One :
important fact connected with these d
columns SO long beneath the waters of !
he Mediterranean, is that these =
masses Of marble are perforated with
numerous holes drilled deep into
heir substance by species Of BIZ i
valve she'll. This sinking temple has i
,ow two feet Of water covering its G
marble floor. g