Smyrna times., 1886-02-03
-e~--o-e-
THE ROMAN GHETTO.

The proposed demolition Of the Ro-
man ghetto is a matter of great interest
to artists and arch@Ologists. Regarding
it in a practical light, it is certainly q
step toward reform, and is in entire
accordance with the spirit of freedom
and humanity that is the ideal of pres
ent Italy. Historically, the ghetto is a
monument to oppression and race pre-
ludice; its narrow and gloomy streets
have Witnessed excesses of cruelty and
despair. The fresh air and clear sun
light are powcrless to illumine it or
render it whol, some 1t is a part of the
Rome that is passing ont of actuality
into history, and the sooner and more
effectually it is re!egated to its own
place among past things the better for
the Rome of living Romans.
The ghetto itself dates back only three
centuries to the time when Paul ",
in his papal bull in 1910, designated it
as the obligatory dwelling place for the
Jews Their colonization in Rome
began with the arrival OF n number of
jews who followed Pompay on his
return from the first conquest of Jeru-
salem. They settled in Trastvere, nearly
opposite the present ghetto, and, as
their number increased. their settlement
extended into the Valley of Egeria
American archie lngis:s need not be
reminded Of the excavations made II few
years since in the Jewish cemetery near
the Appian way.
1t is reasonable t. hope for treasures
still richer and of grra er significance to
art and history whenever the demolition
of the ghetto shall take place The
removal of the old landmarks will
undoubtedly be made with the greatest
care and Intelligence under the direc-
tiOn of some of the devoted archRo ogists
of the city. Much. indeed, has been
lost and DESTROYED Goths. Vaudals,
fire and the sword have swept over the
place. The heathens pillaged the treas
ures of Rome, and, later, the Inquisition
robbed the Jews Yet it is almost GER
tain that under the floors, or buried
beneath the thresholds of these miser-
able abOdes, given over 10 decay and
darkness, will be foun wealth of money
and Jewels, some of them. perhaps,
pledged to Jewish money lenders by
POpes and noblemen, whose names were
upon the books of the Hebrews.
Still deeper in the earth, and still
more removed i'll time and history, will
be found relics of Imperial Rome, when,
instead Of the squallid houses of tho
ghetto, arose upon this site the stately
porticos of Octavia and the theatres of
Balbus and Marcellu'. From the his
toric earth of this site has already
emerged the Venus Of Praxiteles. His
torians assure us that many statues not
less valuable had Their inches in these
superb theatres; that marbles chiseled
by the foremost sculptors of the time
are known to have adorned the scenes;
and that in the theatre of Balbus were
no less than seventy-fve equestrian
images in bronze, efiigies of as many
friends of Alexander the Great and
modelled by his command by the artist
Lysippus. When the work of demoli-
ton shall begin, students of art and
history will be on hand to witness the
excavations. 1t will be an occasion OF
importance and, perhaps, of excite
ment; and it is simply impossible to
calculate beforehand what treasures
will be revealed or what new light will
be thrown upon history by the clearing
away of these ancient haunts of terror,
ayariee and misery.