The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-10-01
An Ancient Safe from Pompsli.

We translate from the Paris MoniteuT UniUer-
SCI, OF Septem Der 10, the following description
OF safe and other objects of interest discovered
in the ancient city OF Pompei, in the progress
OF excavations objected by the Italian Govern
ment:-
The excavations at Pompeii, directed with
equal activity and skill by Senator Flsrelh, are
continually bringing interesting objects to light.
Within the past few days a Golfer or safe has
been found, covered with plates of iron, and
oTnameLted with fol age and bdS Te!ietS in
oronZe, and bearing Il certain resemblance to
the safes now useu in public offices and COM
mercial establishments. The safe of Pompeil
consists Ut an oblOng box about metre in
length $50 1-3 nches) by so centimetres (about
halt the lengthy in wid h, and the same in depth.
The box must have been covered with plates
of iron, of which only traces remain bat the
ornamentat1on in bronze on the anterior face
remains almost intact, This ornamentation is
composed of a border of ivy leaves almost de-
tached, having been secured by iron nails
which are worn away by oxidation. In the
middle appears group of six figures distri-
buted in q square in the following manner:-In
the centre Is the head Of man, something like
what is known in architecture as 'mask;n
above two female busts of the Diana type;
crowned with flowers; and in line perpen-
dicular 10 the mask, and exactly at the point
where the handle for raising the cover was
attached, is dogs bead, with ears lowered,
and in menacng attitude.
These figures are executed with great care;
they had, no doubt, been cast and afterwards
uHlSLGu Win tue SIdNeG. IuG P6lll are CudEul-
ing models. They wore a smiling expression,
and are as beautiful as the angels heads carved
by G. Liberti on the great door of the bapustry
of Florence. The female busti and the mask,
which are elaborately wrought in the style OF
the finest medals of the best epoch, might we'll
be taken for portraits of the owner of the Golfer
and his children, or perhaps his wife and sister,
However this may be- the head of the dog and
the wreath OF ivy are lndisputable symbols of
vigilance and fidelity; aiegories in every respect
appropriate in the ornamentation of a SAFE
The Golfer had no lock. 1t was secured by the
| agency of a simple mechanism, similar to a
saTrasine; but it seems probable-and this is one
! OF the curious features of the box-that the IRON
| plates concealed bolts known only to the Wner.
| 1t was found in an insignificant house situated
on the Stables road, south OF the CITY, in the di-
| rection OF Castellamare. 1t was, besides, en-
trely empty. 1t is known that a great many
precious objects were carried away or removed
| by the Inhabitants Of Pompeu during and after
the catastrophe. However, the excavations, di-
rected with particular attention to the locality
| in which the safe was found, have produced
important results. Thus, in small box nearly
crum bled to powder, being made of a delicate
wood, was found one of those hollow globes
of gold (bUl ld) Which the children of the riot
wore on the neck until the sixteenth year, WheI
! they exchanged the preteCtd for the tOgd UiriLis
In the museum at Naples is to be seen a mar
BILE statue of young Nero, in which the future
Emperor is represented in the pTeteItd anC
wearing the 6Wtd, which is in every respect
| like that which has Just been discovered al
| Pompeii. The latter consists of globe of meta
about five centlmeires Il 95-10O inch) il
diameter, opening like SHE'LL and capable O
containing certain small articles. Only the two
| cups of the sphere had been fattened by tht
| pressure OF earth or ashes. 1t is surmounted by
llbbon like ring, elabOrately wrought in fila
| gree; through this ring was passed the cord by
| which the buttd was suspended to the neck o.
| the youths, who were on this account sometime:
| designated by the title of bUudtI
| Other precious objects have been found in the
same locality noticeable among which are five
| gold rings, pin similar to those worn now II
| cravats, broken bracelet, and earrings of
| model entirely new in the inventory of antique
| discoveries, and resembling those which The
| peasants in the envlrOus of Naples call rosetes
! These latter consisted of disks of network, il
| each mesh of which was strung small eme
raid pierced like pearl. The two earring
| contained tilty-two emeralds.
This house, which appears to have been tn
shop of laoidaIY or The house of goldsmith
furnished several other emeralds, preciou
stones, cut but not set, a number OF silve
spoons OF various sizes, and large amethys
of very fine water. on which were engraved
two figures, apparently those of Apollo am
| Cuni1