Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-06-30
4 APOMPEIAN HOUSE.

The Naples correspondent ofThe Daily
News writes: The house which was begun
to be excavated at the celebration of the
centenary of Pompeii, and is, therefore,
called Casa del Centenario,' and from
which then saw three skeletons dug out
has proved to be the largest hitherto dis
covered, and is of peculiar interest. 1t
contains two atria, two trielmia, four ale
or wings, calidarium, frigidarium, and
tapidarium. 1t occupies the entire space
between three streets, and most likely a
fourth which has yet to be excavated.
The vestibule is elegantly decorated, and
its mosaic pavement ornamented with the
figure of a dolphin pursued by a sea-
horse. In the first atrium, the walls of
which are adorned with small theatrical
scenes, the pavement is sunk and broken,
as if by an earthquake, and there is a
large hole through which one sees the
cellar. The second attrium is very spa
cious with handsome perisytle, the col
umns-white and red stucco-being TWEEN
ty-six in number In the center is a
large marble basin, within the edge of
which runs narrow step. On the pedes-
tai at one side was found the statuette of
the Faun which lately described. The
most interesting place in the house is an
inner court or room, on one side OF which
is the niche, with tiny marble steps, often
to be seen in Pompeian houses. The
frescoes on the walls are very beautiful.
Close to the floor runs wreath of leaves
about a quarter of a yard wide, with al
ternately lizard and stork. Above it,
about yard distant, droop, as if from
over wall, large branches of vine or ivy
and broad leaves like those of the tiger
ily-all very freely, naturally, and
gracefully drawn. At each corner of the
room bird clings to one of these
branches. Then comes a space-border-
ed at the top by another row of leaves
in which is represented whole aquari-
um, as if the room were lined with tanks.
There are different sorts of shells and
aquatic plants lying at the bottom of the
water, swimming in or on it all kinds of
fish, jelly fish, ducks and swans, admir-
ably sketched with light yet firm touch.
The ripples made by the swimming ducks
are indicated, and one duck is flying into
the water with splash. On each side Of
the niche this amusing aquarium is enliv-
ened by special incident. To the left
large octopus has caught monstrous
mur@na Qamprey)-which turns round
to bite-in its tentacles; to the right a
fine lobster has pierced another murana
through and through with its long, hard
feelers, or hOrus. These creatures are
painted in the natural colors very truth
fully. On the left wall of the room,
above the fishes are two sphinxes, sup
porting on their heads. square marble
vases, on the brim of each of which sits a
dove. Behind the niche, and on the left
side of the room, runs little gallery with
a corridor underneath, lighted by small
square holes in the border of hanging
branches. The wall of this gallery be-
hind the niche is decorated with a wood
land landscape, in which, on one side, is
represented bull running frantically
away with a lion clinging to its
launches; on the other, a horse lying
struggling on the back, attacked by. a leo
pard; all nearly the size oflife. On each
side of the doorway is painted, respect
lively, a graceful doe and bear. The
other rooms are also very beautifully one
with splendidly elegant design on
black ground; in another small fresco
representing man pouring wine out of
amphora into large vessel. The bath
rooms are large and elegant, the cold bath
spacious and of marble. In one 70 m
corner is dedicated to the zares and pen
ates, and in the fresco decoration, among
the usual serpents, etc., noticed the
singular figure of Baccheus or bacclante,
entirely clothed with large grapes. In
on of the mosaic pavements is head of
Medusa, the colors very bright and we'll
preserved. AS some of the ruins are only
excavated to within two or three feet of
the the Aoor, it is possible that many
valuable ornaments or statuettes may yet
be found, as everything indicates that
this splendid house belonged to some rich
oifi1on