The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-03-07

the educated classes OF Rome during the
Augustan age. and which the criticism of
the later schools of modern historians has
labored to demolish The Roman cores
pondents of the London newspapers have
occasionally spoken Of the excavations
which have been made in Rome during the
twenty years, at the expense of the late
French Emperor and the Prussian Govern
ment, and of an English Archaeological
Society, of which the most energetic men,
Der, if not the founder and chief supporter,
was Mr. J. II. Parker, whose Glossary Of
architecture and other kindred books have
so materially aided in the revival of the
study of Gothic architecture in Rome.
But few persons are aware that while per-
sonally prosecuting his researches into the
buried history of the Rome of the past,
Mr.. Parker has expended a very considera-
Die sum in the execution of more than
5000 photographs of every important frag
ment of Roman remains which can eluci-
date the actual history of Rome, from its
very earliest foundation down to the med
ia;eval period, adding to this strictly his
torical collection photographs of all the
best Grace Roman sculpture in the collec-
tons of the Vatican and the Capitol.
The value of these photographs, from
their literal truth, cannot be over estimat-
ed; and they furnish the most important
contribution to historical knowledge which
the art of photography has yet supplied.
No drawings made by hand can be depend
ed upon for perfect accuracy in such min
ute details of measurement as are essential
to the arguments which are to be founded
upon them; and moreover. many of the
photographs were made by the aid of the
magnetism light, as they are transcripts of
work which lies in the deepest darkness.
1t has for some time been held by the DOM
inant schools of historical teaching that
we have no means Of forming any satisfac
tory estimate Of the actual condition of
the Roman people during those early ages
which are popularity known as the period
of the Kings. The traditional stories
which We're put into historical shape by
Livy are not, it is said, worth serious con-
sideration. There may, and there may
not, have been, though doubtless there
were some leaders of the chieftain kind,
by some means or other, the obscure and
slowly increasing shepherd population,
which ultimately was developed into the
Roman Republic, and who carried on a
series of quarrels, which legend has de-
signated by the sounding title of wars.
But we cannot trace any clear succession
in these chiefs, or learn what they actual
achieved, and can only assume that if ever
there was such person as the leader
whom tradition called Romulus, he must
have been the mere head of some band of
discontinued or half-outcast followers, who
settle down somewhere on the site of the
vast city which ultimately included the
seven hills and the land Immediately adj
joining them.
Let us see what Mr.. Parker and his pho
tographs tell us, in contradiction to this
now generally received theory. In a word,
the excavations of the last twenty years
have unburied the actual foundations and
more than the foundations, of enormous
works, which show that the period of the
Kings, Rome was fortified city Of very
considerable Importance, governed by de-
spotic monarchs. The fact of the con-
struction of an arr, or citadel of great
strength in war; together with the com
mencement of special Notifications, dis,
continued after some important event, is |
established beyond a doubt. The wells
which were constructed by the chief
whom we may as well call Romulus as any
thing else-for the use Of his garrison
when driven to their last resources, are
stil in existence. Mr.. Parker had himself
let down into these wells, and found, with |
what establishment and delight may be
imagined, that in their construction they
are totally unlike any other wells in Italy, |
ancient and modern, with one solitary |
exception. That exception is to be found |
in the remains of the old Etrurian city of
Alba Tonga, which was nnquestionably a
fourishing place about the time which ira
dition assigns as the date of the foundation |
of Rome. There was a report among the
poor people who lived near the walls of
Romulus that some sort of old and dried |
up well did there exist, but of the perfect |
condition and structure of the existing |
wells no one had the slightest knowledge.
The popularity of construction Of these
wells lies in their termination at their
lower extremity, where they reach the |
body of water stored up in the reservoir |
with which they communicate; each well |
there expanding into conical shape, so
that it precisely resembles an inverted fun
mel Such construction is perfectly use
less if designed to increase the quantity of
water to be drawn up through the well,
and consequently it is everywhere I'M
known, except, as we have said, in we'll |
which communicates with reservoir of
water, at the ancient Etruran city of Alba
Conga, now PalaZzuolo. The wells of
Romulus, and the sides and bottom of the
reservoir into which they open, still ex-
hibit remains of the clay "puddliug with
which they were made water tight, the
tufa in which they are cut being porous
and unfit for the storing of water. The
identity of the engineering ideas which |
prevailed both at Alba Tonga and at Rene
when its foundations were laid is thus
clearly made ont; and, so far the tradition
is made out which asserts that Romulus
came of the family r.ling at Alba Tonga.
The AK, or citadel, which these wells
were meant to supply with water, when its
inhabitants were shut up by a beleaguer-
ing force, is the original fortified place
where Romulus ruled, and which goes by
the name of Roma Quadrdta. SO far the
more moderate of the skeptical school will |
admit, though even this will be contested
by those who believe that the old traditions
are not worth the slightest consideration.
But what is now made evident from the
recent excavations as interpreted by one
who possesses the trained archaeological eye,
and understands the true test of age in
buillipuS. is the great size and importance