Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-11-20
Ancient Rome.

1Ho loPoEiapuy vi duCleDL ROGe has al
ways been matter Ct interest TO historians.
and also one OF extreme difficulty. Such
great changes have been made during the
long period Of the occupation Of the ground
by many masters, ana SO much of it has
been built ever and destroyed 60 msny
times that doubts have been entertained "a
10 the exact spots where took place some OF
Lhe most important events Of history But
since Rome became again Il capital such
vast schemes of building and Of change have
been adopted that in the necessary eycayG
tons Il great deal has come 20 light that has
lain hidden for thousands OF wears, Such
progress has been made in determining lo-
calities that before long it will probably be
possible to construct 3 complete topography
| of the Rome Of even the earliest times.
On the Palatne Hill, known to be Inc
| cradle OF Rome and afterward the lavorita
residence OF the Caesars, the latest discoy-
cries have been made. These connect il
directly with the rude village which Albau
shepherds built eight centuries before Christ
and which was AtterWard transformed into
fortified city by another shepherd, named
Romulus. This nucleus Of the city had
wall with four gates, one of which was call.
the earliest in Rome. Part Of this gate and
part OF this primitive street have now been
laid bare. Under the street is the sewer rs
originally constructed, cut in the solid tufa
and leading down 10 the little stream at the
foot OF the hill. This sewer is extremely in
ieresting a. exhibiting the system Of drain.
| age III primitive Rome and as showing that
| n the earliest days this indoJnitabic Latin
| race began TO undertake those well consid-
cred public works which have aiways re-
| manned the wonder OF succeeding genera
| tions.
Another discovery relates 20 a compara
| lively modern era, though it is es ancient as
| the earliest of the Christian centuries The
catacOGlb Of ST. Sebastian, on the Appisu
| way, Is one OF great antiquity, going back
to Apostolic times. 1t has always been Il
| place Of special veneration because Of the
| tradition that here the bodies ofSt. Peter
and st. Paul were hidden after their mar
tyrdom. But during the later middle ages,
| it became choked with rntbish and aItno..
lost TO oil knowledge. Lately. however it
| has been opened and many discoveries Of
Christian tombs and relics made, bu: most
Of them had already been visited end rob.
bed OF whatever remained Of value But
new gallery was found, completely cut
oil by accumulated rubbish which when
opened, presented the rare surprise Of n
| place Of early sepu!ture iutact, with its
| tombs still closed By tiles and marble slabs.
The destroyers Of the middle ages, who vio-
| lated almost all the tomGs in the Christian
cemeteries, had net reacbe6 this gallery,
and it was founG as left by the sncient
builders.
Most ofthese tombs aaa adorned with tho
glass vases which is sometimes q sign Of
martyrdom, but not always 90. Sometimes
they are believed TO have contained poi-
tions of the aromns and perfumes with
which the body was spyinkIet: in The act OF
burial. There are many sacred mSaog.ama
and Christian inscriptions, And one object
Of most uuusal Interest This ia burst OF
the Saviour, sculntured in relief, in sort
Of rectangular frame. The type Of head is
that wel-knomn one, with pointed beard
and hair falling on the shoulders, which y;
characteristic Of ffourth.oentury work. The
bust, as au isolatea work OF the time, is
unique, and is Of capital Importance ia the
history Of early Christian art. Unfortunate
y, it is badly injured.