Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-09
NEW DISCOVERIES AT PoMPEuL
4 New House OF importance Found
Wonderful Frescoes.

Hampered continually by the strained
condition Of its budget, the Italian Gov
eminent H. carrying on excavations at
Pompei, and this locality remains On in
exhaustibie fed OF discovery. Under
the direction of SignOr Cozza, engineer
ln charge OF the excavations, whole
Roman mansion has been discovered
lately, the decorations and furniture OK
which are In q perfect state Oh prcser-
yatlOn. This house was very import
ant one. 1t occupied a whole isoia, or
city block, On the northern part OF the
town. The inside yard. as IL was GUS
tOmary. s. In a rectangular shape, very
large, and surrounded on its four sides
by a portico supported by eighteen Corln-
THAN columns. Between these columns
were found nine white marble vasques,
four tables resting on q base deco
rated with chmera's les, and nine statu-
cites OF Bacchus, fauns, and Cupids.
The walls. painted black and red, are
decorated at The top with a nearly in
tact cornice. richly ornamented. The
different rooms, which open on the
atrium, are embellished with frescoes
Of the highest interest. On the walls
Of the main hall Is q freze outstretching
with the most exquisite taste and spirit
ed execution. 1t represents scenes
OF everyday life, with winged Cupids as
performers. Many subjects Of similar
STYLE have already been found In Pom
peh, but none so well preserved and OF
such delicate refinement.
one OF these scenes represents 4
"wreath-shOp" on one side the making
on the other side the sale Of the wreaths
IS figured. Further is a "fuller's work.
ROOM" Two women are treading on the
cloth. which ~ lying In large bucket a
little further are seen two Cupids stretch
ing the wet cloth on a drying-loom. An
other Cupid shows 10 the forewomen the
work TO do. At the right of this compo-
slton. and ending It, are two women
folding the dry cloth which has been
brought 20 them.
A "goldsmith-shop" Is not less interest
ing Cupid Is al the desk weighing on
a scale a jewel which a rich lady Gus
toner seated facing him, has just Sc
lected; while other Cupids are hammer
ing on a delicate anvil silver and gold
objects Next is a chariot race" This
fresco gives US a wonderful idea Of the
circus performances. Standing on their
narrow chariot, drawn by antelopes, are
four drivers. Dressed with colored vests.
Ike our modern jockeys, they are press
Ing their speedy teams and striving with
desperation. Besides the graceful freze
mentioned above, three separate fresco
panels constitute the main decoration.
Their dimensions are about a square me
tire that Is TO say a surface OF about 10
square feet. They represent various cpl
sodes OF the Theban legendary history.
The lrSt one shows an infant Hercules
smOthcring the snakes which Juno IN
her Jealous anger has sent against him
This episode appears on beautiful coin
II CrOtona.. and IS wen known to thos
he doI a. - l..
American Revolutionary period. Taking
his inspiration from the antique. Benja-
min Franklin caused n medal 10 be
struck at the Paris Mint. on which young
America Is personihed by the child hero
I'm his cradle strangling the two ser
pents. These snakes represent Bur
gOyne's and Cornwallls's armies. on
the reverse Of the said metal are the
dates Of their annihiatiOn. coupled with
the glorious names OF Saratoga and
Yorktown In the Pompeian fresco Ju-
piter Is seated on a throne and contem-
plating with a radiant smile the infant
heros exploit. while Alcmena, his mo-
Their hidden behind the god. follows
with senli-anguished. senli-admirng eyes
the progress OF the struggle. The idea
of the infant Hercules stranging two
serponts is symbolcal to the victory OF
Light over Darkness. of Good over Evil.
and of free and united Hellas over bar
barism and tyranny. This painting IL
particularly interesting. as II may he a
copy OF the famous composition by Xue-
xis mentioned by Pliny.
In the second picture Amphion and
Zethus are represented taking revenge
on Drce who. after causing their mother
Antiope, TO be repudiated by their father.
Lycus married him IN her stead. They
are in the act of tying her to the tail Of
a Wild bull.
The Staying Of Penthea n painted on
the last panel. Incensed by Dionysos.
whose Worship this King had prescribed
I'm his dominions. the mother and sisters
OF Pen'hea have Joined the Bacchantes.
They have caught the unfortunate while
he Is watching them. and. intoxicated
with mad frenzy, they kill him with their
thyrses.
Generally all the pictures Of Importancs
sxhumed at Pompeii are transferred To
Nanles. but an exception has been made
in favor of the newly-d!scoysred fFescoes
They can be admired at the site % their
duding ~ n +