The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-04-19
Pompeii and Herculaneum.

baths, then we arrive at the academy and
temple of Apollo and the MUSES., which
was ornamented by columns of Parian
marble. Not far from this was the place
where the wild beasts were confined, and
here the statues of the nine muses. were
discovered during the pontifcate of Alex
ander vi, afterwards removed to the
royal museum of Paris. The neighbor-
ing ground is covered with the ruins cf
the buildings which formed the academy
-habitations mingled with gardens, and
fountains formed by conducting thither
the waters of the Marcio and the Anio.
From this point extends a portico which
led to that part of the villa called the
Lyceum-a building dedicated 10 phil
osophical studies, where group of Pan
and Syrinx was discovered.
After having traversed the foundation
of the E'redrttm and of the baths the
traveller arrives at
The Canopus,
one of the most beautiful ornaments of
the place. Here part of the valley has
been shaped so as to contain vast sheet
of water, where limitations of naval COM
bats were represented. At one Of the
extremities lie the ruins of temple in
the form of shell which was dedicated
to Neptune, who was called Canopus by
the Egyptians. Here also the statue of
a sea-horse was discovered, and also a
considerable quantity of figures of Egyp-
tian deities which were conveyed to the
museum of the Vatican and deposited in
the hall called on that account Canopus
Proceeding toward the east the traveller
enters another valley, supposed by anti
quarians to have been fashioned into a
model of the delicious bowers of Tempe
and the Elysian fields Hard by was the
entrance to the Internal regions-proba-
bly, quarry excavations, with entrances
through three apertures, which, in the
opinion of Pirro Ligorio, mark the ave-
nues of the three quarters of the world
Asia towards the east, Africa towards the
west, and Europe towards the north.
Long corridors, forming a labyrinth, led
to an immense cavern filed with water,
where the thrones and tribunals of the
Internal divinities were seen, and in
which mysteries, so terrifying to the uu-
initiated were celebrated.
Towards the south, and the extremity
Of the villa, extends the rest of
The Prytaneum.
1t was composed of vast piles of build
ings, where the Emperor lodged the sick
soldiers, his companions in arms Here
were the granaries, the cellars, and in
Vulnerable other magazines for all sorts
of provisions. Both in the environs and
in the centre of the beautiful gardens,
rose the monuments of the illustrious
persons who died In the villa. Many
cinerary urns have been discovered
With the exception of the parts described,
the villa now presents mass of ruins,
which, though explored a hundred times,
present little interest but to painters and
lovers of classic times. Yet the immense
space which is covered, the solidity of
the walls, the remains which crowd every
step-the very considerable number of
statues and inscriptions which have been
discovered in this place and carried to
enrich the collections of Rome-all con-
tribute to impress upon ones mind the
magnificence and never failing resources
Of the ancient Roman people.
We quilted these interesting scenes
and hastened towards Rome. On re. en-
tering the city two objects of great in
! terest-
The Villas Of Meoenas and Este,
claim more than passing attention. 1t
is necessary to call up every power Of the
judgment and imagination to form an ac-
curate idea of the former. The latter,
better preserved is yet nothing more than
a shadow of what it was in the time when
this family, now extinct, fourished-a
family which has gained an immortal
name in the verses OF Ariosto. The long
terraces, the elegant porticoes, the re-
freshing grottoes are solitary and silent.
The stiffness of the gardens is only
broken by the rustling Of the leaves and
the light murmur OF waters which for
merly subjected to the influences Of art,
rose in gets, or fell in cascades upon beds
of madrepore and mother of-pearl. Now
abandoned to the beautiful wilderness of
nature, they wind through the unequal
plain or amidst the trees to the beds
which they have formed in the hollows of
the valley. The luxury of nature has
replaced the naughty vanity of the form
er proprietors. Whilst the marbles are
sinking in decay, the great expresses
which adorn the garden continue to lift
their lofty heads as if to search amid the
clouds for the bolts which so oft blast
their form and beauty. Time, the great
vanquisher, has already begun to leave
in these places the traces Of his power,
which are an cruel1v visihle in tbe ,,;l1o