The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-12-30
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Discoveries in the Roman CampagnH.
 The Journal of the Royal Institute of British Ar5hitects contains an illus trated article by Mr. J. Tavenor Perry on some Recent Discoveries at Neml, in the Roman Campagna," Referring to the eXploratl ton, once more being at tempted, of the bed of the Lake of Nemi, which through all its known his tory, has been the scene of great and important works, remarkable even among Roman constructions, he says it was long believed that one of the early Caesars had erected a floating palace on the surface of the lake, and many attempts have been made to recover it but the conclusion at last arrived at is that the tradition was wrong, and that the palace, or whatever 1t was, was of the nature of a permanent structure raised upon piles.
 Mir. Perry continues Being in the Caesarinl Gardens at Gen2ano a short | time since, l saw a small raft, moored out on the Nemi side, disturbing the placid surface of the lake; but I was lthen unable to ascertain why it was there. Returning to Rome, I made some inquiries which not only enabled me to get what I believe to be authen- tic information as to what has been done and what it is proposed further to do, but to obtain the beautiful photo graphs printed with this communiaa- ton. The recent diving operations, which have so far been carried out by private enterprise, have resulted in proving the supposed villa to have been neither more nor less than the landing stage of the traditional galley which had gradually subsided by decay, be- meath the water of the lake, and which has thus been preserved until now in fairly perfect condition It is of con siderable extent, and lies about sixty feet below the surface, and could only be brought up to the land piecemeaI after considerable damage. The mat ter ds, believe, under the consideration of the Italian government. They have before them a proposal to employ some skilled engineers from Spezia, who, by forming a coffer dam around the stage, the extent and position of which have now been accurately determined, and by pumping out the water, would either raise it to the surface or expose it so that it may be carefully examined and delineated by experts. The piles which support the stage are sheathed in cop per and were capped with bronze, hay ing on the one face heads holding the rings in their mouths for the mooring ropes These heads, of most beautiful workmanship, are most perfectly pro- served. R,,ng easily moved, they have been brought to the surface, and prove clearly that they were provided for mooring ships or galleys to the stage, and that the tradition of the galley is reasonable. The Medusa head, of still more exquisite workmanship, may have been affixed to a prov, but l was un able to ascertain exactly the position
 in which t was found The stage was laid with marble pavement, consist ing of large plaques of porphyry, with encircling pieces of white and green marbles and a quantity of glass mosaic. ffUm the QeSaflptlOh It Wpulu SeNiH that the character of the pavement was that of opus alexandrinum It is also stated that the galley has been seen afresh, and the discovery or tho use to which the permanent. structure was devoted has clearly demonstrated that movable palace or ship of some kind was intended to be placed on the lake. 1t is. to be hoped that when the stage has been recovered the galley may be at least looked for; but, even if found, the enormous depth of the lake in its center may preclude any attempt to raise it.