The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-09-01

Cathedral'of Trevcs-there stood 1900
years ago the palace OF Saint Helena and
the Roman forum. The roof of the lat
ter was supported by four granite col
umns and twelve arches, These mum.
bers were taken symbolicallY TO repres-
cnt the four eYnnge'ists and twelve
apostles, the founders and supporters
OF the Church oil Christ, and the, Rquian
forum was transformed into christian
church. But it was destroyed, and all
that is now left OF the forum is piece
OF the shaft of one Of the columns lying
to the left Of the entrance OF the present
cathedral and called the "domsteilp
Cathedral stonc1. The high altar Is
supported on stairs Of black marble, on
which statues of Constantine and
Helena are standing. Altogether the
cathedral and the adjoining Church OF
Our Lady are most remarkable speci-
mems Of medieval architecture chiefly
interesting to students OF the history oil
the art.
Constantine also built Il basilica or
hall for the transaction of commercial
business, which las been transformed.
into Protestant church, 1t is ohe OF
the finest buildings in the city, oblong
in form, 200 feet long by 100 wide, the
fiat roof supported on horizontal
stretchers, which leaves comparatively
large open space for meetings. There
are not many Protestants in the city OF
tho holy coat. But since Trevcs became
Prussian city its Protestants, however
few there may be OF them, have u claim
upon the consideration OF their Protes-
tant royal masters. So Frederick Will
lam w, the elder brother Of Emperor
William l., had the bAsilica transformed
into Protestant church, which Is
chiefly remarkable for It's grand SIM
plicity of style and ornamentation.
At one OF the most beautiful spots OF
the beautiful plain in the valley OF the
Mosblle, where the city OF Treves IS
built, surrounded by hills covered with
green vineyards, there are the ruins OF
the Roman amphitheater. Not less than
10000 spectators could be seated around
the enormous arena that rivaled the
colosseum Of Rome, and like this, the
amphitheater of Trevcs was among the
bloodiest spots that ever existed. Not
warlike expedition was finished by
the Roman Caesars OF these parts but
great numbers Of the captives were
taken 10 this arena, there to butcher
each other or be torn to pieces by
beasts OF prey for the amusement OF the
rctainers OF The Romans. On one occa-
sion Constantine, the Christian, had Il
whole host OF Franks and Bructeri,
taken prisoners OF war and counted by
several thousands, butchered in that
arena for the amusement OF his brutal
crowd. Such little matters did not
stand in the way, it seems, Of granting
Constantine one OF the most celebrated
visions intended to convert him to
Christianity. Neither had they power
to prevent his mother becoming
devout pilgrim and being greatly
blessed by such discoveries as q seam
less coat won at game of dice by a
Roman soldier some three centuries
before.
The same bloody field where so many
thousands OF Franks had been cruelty
slaughtered by these Roman butchers
within little more than Il century after
the time OF Constantine became witness
to the decisive victory OF the Franks
over the Romans, and Treves was made
u capital OF the rising empire. OF the
Franks-one OF the most telling in
stances of the retributive justice mani
fest in the history Of the world.
In front OF the ampitheatre the pal
ace OF Constantine was located. 1t was
an immense building, q length OF 800 |
feet being clearly traceable, and the
ruins indicating that it was much |
larger Several halls OF 200 and ITO feet in
length and 100 feet in width have been
Little more than fifty years |
ago it was all covered with rubbish.
Whenthe citywnstaken possession Of by |
Prussia Prince William, afterward En-
peror William l, OF Germany, on his |
march homeward from the city Of Paris |
in 1915, rode into the city through one
OF the large windows of the former i'm
periRl Roman palace. The window at |
that time served as geitysgate and the
road from the Rhine to France ran
right through 1t. Since then the rub
Dish, sand, and earth has been removed |
and the window through which William
rode in 1915 Is now nearly twenty feet
above ground. The whole palace is
being gradually dug up.
The relics OF Roman and medieval
times at Trcvca arc now collected at the |
museum of the city, which
Is one of the most interesting collection
Of antiquities to be found anywhere.