The daily gazette., 1880-06-22
A POMPEIAN HOUSE.
THE "cAsA DEL cENTENARIo, THE
LARGEST HITHERTO DISCOVERED. 81

THE "CAsA DEL cENTENARIo," THE
LARGEST HITHERTO DISCOVERED.
The Naples correspondent of the
London Daily News writes "The
house which was begun to be excava--
ted 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
discovered, and is of peculiar interest.
1t contains two atria, two trichnia,
four ale, or wings, q calidarinm, frigi-
darium and tspidarium. 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 seahorse. -
In the first atrium, the walls of which
are adorned with small theatrical
scenes, the pavement issunk and brok-
en-, as if by an earthquake, and there
is.-a large hole through which one sees
the cellar. The second atrium is very
spacious with a handsome peristyle,
the columns white and red stucco-
being twenty-six in number. In the
centre is large marble basin, within
the edge of which runs narrow step.
Ono the pedestal at one side was found
the statuette of the Faun. The most
interesting place in the house is an in
ner 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 a
wreath ofleaves about quarter of a
yard wide alternately a lizard and a
stork. Above it, about yard distant,
droop, as if from over a wall, large
branches of vine or ivy and broad
leaves like those of the tiger-lily.-all
very freely naturally and gracefully
drawn. At each corner of the room a
bird elings To one Of these branches.
Then comes "a Ispace-bordered at the
top by another row Uf leaves--in which
is represented a whole aquarium, as if
the room were lined with tanks.
There are different sorts of shells and
aquatic plants lying at the bottom of
the water and swimming in oron it all
kinds Of fish jelly fish, seplas, duckss
and swans, admirably sketched with
light yet firm touch. The ripples
made by the swimming ducks are ill.,
dicated, and one duck is just flying in
to the water with a splash. On each
side of the niche this amusing aquari-
um is enlivened by a, special incident.
To the left q large octopus has caught
monstrous mur8na Qamprey)-
which turns round to bite-in its ten
tacles to the right a fine lobster has
pierced another murena through and
through with its long, hard feelers or
horns. These creatures are painted in
the natural colors very truthfully. On
the left wall of the room, above the
fishes, are two sphinxes, supporting 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 thesro0ns fppss4 little gallery with
q corridor Underneath, lighted by
small square holes in the border of
hanging branches. The wall of this
gallery behind the niche is decorated
with woodland la n6scape, .inlwhtch,
on one side, is represented a-bun rum
ming frantically away with a lion
clinging to its launches on the other,
a horse lying struggling on its back,
attacked by a leopard /; all nearly the
size of life. On each side of the door
way is painted, respectively, a grace
full doe and bear. The other rooms
are also very beautiful one with a
splendidiy elegant design on black
ground /; in another small fresco rep
resenling q man pouring Wine out of
an amphora into a large vessel. The
bath rooms are large and elegant the
cold bath spacious and ofmarble. In
one room corner is dedicated to the
larss and penatss, and in the fresco
among the usual serpents,
&C., l noticed the singular figure of
> Bacchus Or bucchante, entirely |
,lothed with large grapes. In one of
she mosaic pavements is head of Me-
1usa, the .colors very bright and well
'As some Of the rooms are
only exca vated to within two or three
ieet of the floor, it is possible that
many valuable ornaments or statuettes
nay yet be found, as everything iDdi-
,ates that this splendid house belong
,d To sofl1A rich citizen, ~ 70 - - ~ 4 |