The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-05-04
GL0RIES OF ROME.
FAMOUS TRlU1pHAL ARCHES.
A Marble Monument CcnnrminE Bible His
tory-Enormcus Roman Baths.
TTny Times,

memory OF the INDUSTRIOUS ucad. vi the
few that have escaped the rayages Of time,
there are three that deserve special men,
ton. They stand between the capitol and
the Coliseum.
The arch Of Septimus Severus rises ma
jestically al the end Of the forum, near the
capitol. IL was erected A. n. 20S by the
Roman Senate aud people, in honor OF the
Emperor Severus and his sons, Caracalla
and Geta, and in commcmoration OF their
victories over the Parthians and Per.
slams. 1t Is melancholy monument
for the infamous Caracaila erased the
name OF his brother, whom he mur-
dercd, and by his cruel conduct
drove his father 10 despair and sui
eide. After remaining half buried for
ages the lower part Of this arch was eyca-
waited 10y order of Pope Plus VII. at the
beginning Of the present century. This
great monument consists OF one central
and two lateral arches, with small trans
verse arcEways connecting them, and all
deliberately ornamented. In one OF the
piers is stairway Of fifty steps leading TO
the top. On the sides OF the arch are bas-
reliefs representing scenes in the wars OF
SeverUS. and the summit was originally
surmounted by bronze chariot, contain
inc the statues OF the emperor and his two
sons, drawn by SIX bronze horses.
The arch Of Constantine, the first Chris
tan Emperor. is near the Coliseum, and
spans the famous road, "Nia Triumph
ais" II is the largest, most beautiful.
most imposing, and bet preserved OF the
tTiumphal arches OF Rome TO celebrate the
victory OF Constantine the Great over
Maxentius, who claimed the Roman
crown. Ii was in this campaign that he
whose name and fame is perpetuated by
this great arch. profeSsed To see lumi-
nous cross in The sky with the Inscription,
"By this conquer" Like that of SeveruS,
this is triple arch, and is adorned with
columns, statues. baS-reliefs, and dccora-
tons in marble relating TO the deeds OF
Constantine. This also was restored by
Plus VII.
standing conSpicuOuSly on the highest
part OF the Via Sacra," midway between
the two other famous arches, is the arch OF
Titus. II is the smallest, oldest. yet in
some respects the most famous, and, TO the
Christian, the most interesting OF Roman
arches. 1t is only forty-nine feet high and
forty-two feet in width. 1t was erected
a. u. Il, by the Roman Senate and people,
10 commemorate the conquest OF Palestine
and the destruction Of Jerusalem by Titus.
II is of white Peutelic marble, and consists
a Il
Iumns and rare sculptures in bas relief.
The exterior has been repaired, but the in
terror has stood unaltered for eighteen
hundred years.
On one OF the piers as you pass under
the arch YOU see in bold relief group OF
figures representing Titus celebrating his
victories over the Jews. The conquerOr
Is standing in his triumphal car. drawn by
four horses abreast, and surrounded by
his exulting ROYAL guards. Above him is
fine sculptured form of Victory" hold
inc the crown of laurel. while before him
is the goddess Roma, leading the train.
Upon the opposite pier is still more in
tereSting procession, bearing the rich and
holy spOils from the temple at Jerusalem.
Among these trophies you NAV see the
seven-branChed golden candlestick" that
once famed in the holy place, the "silver
trumpet" used 10y the Jews to proclaim
the wear OF jubilee. and the ''table OF shew-
bread" that stood near the "holy OF hO-
lies, These reliefs correspond exactly to
the Bible descriptions, and are the only
Visible representations OF the sacred furni-
ture of the temple left Oh the earth.
The arch Of Titus has stood for eighteen
hundred years, telling the sad story OF Je-
rusalem's fall There its stands TODAY, in
perpetual confirmation OF the truth OF Gods
wOrd-a heather monument perpetuating
the memory OF the very man who destroyed
the temple of God, and yet attesting the
accuracy of Bible history and the fulfill
ment OF Christ's words "And we shall be
led away captive into all nations, and Jeru-
salem shall be trodden down Of the Cen
tiles until the time OF the Gentiles be ful-
filed" No wonder that to this day not
one OF the four thousand Jews at Rome
oil oh
one Of the thoroughfares OF the city. They
,hun " as a sad memorial OF the subiuga-
ton Of their nation.
out on the (" Via Appia" are the mighty
ruins OF the baths Of Caracalla. Ruins
several acres in area and more than mile
in circuit Ruins so profoundly quiet in
their lonellness-so tremendous in their
magnitude-so wild and weird in their
desolation, and so massive in their gran
deur. that, next to the Coliseum, they are
the most wonderful remains OF ancient
Rome. Situated as they are just beyond
the noise and confusion OF the city, there
is strange fascination in the silence
OF their dCsolate halls. We do not
wonder that to the poet Shelley they
were favorte resort. They remind one
OF some vast, fOrSaken fortress. There
is brick and stone enough left in their enor-
nous masonry to build good-slzed VII
lape. In fact, it was a little city in itself.
Within the immense enclosure, as il stood
in its former glory, We're bathing halls.
gymnasium, a library, theatre, a race
course. beautiful gardens, shady groves,
quiet walks, porticos, colonnades, foun-
tains. aaueductS. and reservoirs; all on a
scale OF magniticence that gives us some
idea OF the unparalleled luxury OF the
ancient Roman pleasure resorts. 1hese
baths were commenced by the crueI
Emperor Caracalla, A. ID. 2l2, ana COM
pleted by Alexander Seyerus. Tbey PROD
Ably remained entire until the middle OF
the sixth century. There is enough OF
the stupendous walls still standing 10 snow
the grand proportions OF the various apart
menis. The removal Of the massive mar
lie columns, to adorn some modern build
ines. caused the roof TO fall with such
crash that il shook the whole city, and
many said, "There is an earthquake"
Here and there are huge masses OF IaiIen
walls and lofty arches which seem just
ready TO fall. The baths were adorned
with costly marble, rare freseoes, Tlch
paintings, and innumcrable statues-all OF
which disappeared long ago. A few patches
OF itch mosaic work may still be seen on
the walls and floors.
Sixteen hundred bathers could ind ac-
commodations in the luxurious bathing-
rooms at once, and they had the choice OF
the frigidarium (cold bath, or the teplda.
rum warm BATH, or the calidarlum (hot
bath, or the sudatorium Sweat bath). IN
the library were volumes for the Iearneu
and sfudiotls nm the gymnasium sports Tor