, 1874-09-06
Excavations In the Coliscum-Ths
raval Cotnb4ts for a fkomau Eol,.

Rome Correspondence of the Boston Advetso.
Only the eastern extremity Of the Col's.r.
ellipse, and the east gate the side Of St. Icsa
Of Lateran, are cleared OF ground and rubbna
There is every reason to believe, hoTeTer, tut
the western eide, toward the Roman fozur,
has the same arrangement and corresponds Nth
the eastern, which ls opposite to it. The ga.seg
door at the level of the exterior Of the soil (ta
consequently Of tho Via Sacra) leads to ths
circular corridors into which ope1 the stailcaH1
that were used for the amphitheatre. also ka
podiuna, which now remains as platform, On
level with that which WAS beloved to ba tn
original arena Uuder this passage is IN inter-
rupied corridor. From whence it comes is na
yet known it enters the original arena 1t leas
meter and half bcioH. This corridor, tss
vault Of which has fallen in. also Communicate.
at the sides with the subttl uctions it eer7a
undoubtedly for tho combatants and ths
slaves or servants. in the Same way that the u
per passage, over metres above, served TO. tn
public or audience. Still alther below Is
canal, the excursions OF which they are clearing
out it il connected with \ whole system Of
canals, which brought and carrled tho Hstef
used for the n1undchie- By these means tha
areua conld be filled with msss OF Nat.r II
metres deep. The system is q Learned Aad
complicated one. but am told that enough his
alresiy been discovered to enable them to uE-
deTstand aud reconstruct it. Tle canal Of to
great axis e.nptles On this areon into sralls1
canal, which. it is supposed, runs around tas
arena. This original arena, i metres below tha
podium OF platform, is recognized b: its paTlnRt
a brick-uork OF the imperial period-br::Es
placed with the narrow sides up, at acuta anGss
-surchamp Ct en- epis, lying like wheat ears.
On either eide OF t.le second passage "he1
opens on the arena aEo the great features el
Cheya3icr Rosa's excavations, tho d1rsenf q
wet docke, in which were moorcd tho m:na
ehips-of-war for tho 1ldunsachle. These Tet
docks are composed Ut Two arcattes, opening O.
level with The arena, three metres AMI n24
wido and thirty deep. In the middle Of taes9
darseue, under tbs key Of the vault, on taa
same line, riyetcd in the g1ca! fagstones. ~
blocks of bronze, with gou|ots or neek-Rhsfel
holes in the contra. In these were placed tee
movable wooden posts which separated and pea
the barks steady. There n1e FIVE OF tGssa
bronze blocks in each darseaa and under esss
arcade there is room for sl1 banks, 1ao55e-
longitudinally, making twelve barAs lo1 w
two ddrsene. Gates or doors open On toesa
decks from both sides OF the passage: Hn1;
forms tho axis; and they are united At tue esa
by tranaversal passage. Supposlng-Nalca
very naturai--tnat the other extremity OF tae +
lpse is constructed in the came way, "a ea7
readily form clear idea of q n0uMdc11e.
Two flotii1as of twelve barks, each bark bes,
ing ten men, came out from each e1t!emls!@ y
tho arena and attacked each other. We naa
understand, however, that they were miniss1s
ships, Of small proportions. limitations of 10
Roman armed ships OF war. But QUO thing u!
real,-tle combat! Those 240 men who msn7a
tho tov slips we're there to 20 through the ss3s
life-and-dea:h struggle that had taken place1E s1:
tho real historical nea-battles they acted. Nv
savage and corrupt Romans OF tho fA7aa
pcriod,-those eager 100000 spectators ato
thirsted for blood, not aa warriors; and Ho'ts
than beasts, enjoyed tbs war-crict, the gFoa1ss
Of the wounded and dying, and eloated ~ ~ u.
sight OF that little mimic sen Redeemed v'1n n'
life-blooG Of the victims OF their horrible smase'
ments! Two or three representations we're gs1
in day. Then. when the sea-dSht "as e's@
the dead bodies drawn off into the hypo3taat
the barks INQUIRED in tho d0rsenc. the water " "
let out through the canals and flowed snlfliyosi;
Slaves dried the arena, sand waa sprcad ri ~
how1lug wild beasts were let loose into II ~. H..
glaaiators whose 1ife-blood soon soakeo lis
sand; and all this was "to mako hon'a'
holiday!"