The morning times., 1896-12-28
COLISEUM EXCAVATIONS.
Discovery of Christian Tombs of
Different Periods.
J. D. l. 4

The excavations which have been car
ried on of late around the Coliseum, at
Rome, for The purpose Of giving a more
complete view Of the best preserved state
OF the amphitheater have brought to light
q number ~ interesting points. These
excavations were started on the square
opposite the street leading to ST. John
Lateran. and were continued along a
zone, about thirty metres wide around
the entire monument, up 10 the beginning
of the new Via del Serpcti. The ancient
pavement of travcuine. which surrounded
the amphitHcatcr was found 1T the delfh
OF -four aad a half metres below the present
level. TlIis subsidiary zone Of the monu-
ment measured 17-6 meters in width
Along the edge OF this pavement the ordi-
mary street pavement heEau. uade of large
polygoHM blocks OF bas3ltic lava.
The paving blocks were in part wanting
as the ancient pavement was mostly de-
stUoyed in $50, when water conduits were
pat in, and the width ofthe pavement could.
therefore. not be exactly determined. but
II was followed TO width OF ten meters
The space which surrounded the amphi-
theater was limited legally by terminal
Cippi, or boundary stones. placed between
the public street. Five or six of these
cippi were preserved in their original
position, on the eastern side Of the Inonu-
ment, owing 10 the fact that they were
incased in the foundations Of the ancient
Church Of st. GlacOmo di Coliseo, de-
mohShed IN SID. The cippi are OF tra-
Yertine. and terminated in SeIni-circle
Throughout this entire surrounding area
Of the Coliseum, Christian tombs Of differ
eut periods were discovered They are
placed as various levels, some being on q
level Of The ancient road OF the amphitle-
ater, others on a higher level and a num-
ber as high as two meters from the road
bed II seems probable that the ms iority
Of these tumbs were connected with the
church, which stood on this site, and
Of which no traces remain. These tonlbs
are built 81 tiles and covered by caps: some
of the tiles were stamped, and came from
ancient buildings whicbha beendestroyed
One Of the latest tombs, belonging to
q group on the highest level, dates eyi-
IDENTIFY from the seventh century judg-
Ing from an inscription engraved on a
marble slab on the front OF the tomb
This inscription closes with a formula
OF imprecation meuacing the iolator
Of the tomb with the punishment Of Judas,
and this very imprecation is found IN a
number Of inscriptions Of the seventh cen
tury, with several changes in the wording
OF 1t. In earlier inscriptions of the
fifth and sixth centuries, the prayer that
the tomb be not violated, lis never followed
by any imprecatiOn. at the point where
the large group OF these tombs was found.
there was discovered in the foundations of
the hole, large rectangular mass of ira
yertine, preserving a portion OF its plaster
Coating. on which was a fragment offresco
belonging to about the eighth century.
The fresoo represents two saints with
circular nimeus, and robed in long tunics,
which are decorated with Greek crosses.
Each figure holds her right hand raised
to his breast; the one on the right holds
crown, the other an open book.-New
York Independent.