The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-16
The sO-CaIIed .Gramto'' OF the Cru-
ciExiOn
From the 81. James Gazette,

From the st. James Gazette.
A correspondent writes to us from Rome:
The news of the discovery Of ',grafito."
representing the CrucFfixion-the work Of
an eyewitness, IL was asserted-and OF
another scratching on the walls on Tie
Palatine still bearing on the same sacred
subject, is the topic of conversation in all
circles here; all the more, as opinions con-
corning the authenticity of the find. or
rather, its exact meaning, are diametri-
cally opposed. Thus where Prof. Maruelll
sees the crosses-two in number-Prof
GATH sees q trapeze; where the one reads
Pilatus the other reads Filetus; here we
are assured the INSCRIPTION treats of 1agei-
lation, rods and torture-there we are told
the words mean "a something of an amor
Gus nature" finally where Prof. Maruchi
sees the crucifixion, Prof Gatti sees per-
Torrance OF mountebanksl Difference in
opinion cannot really be wider, and il one
adds, by way Of comment that while Prof
Marucchi Is OF the vatican set, his OPP
ponents are government officials, and in a
way trustees of the grandose ruins of
the Palatine, 1t will be easily understood
that the problem is not in a fair way of
being solved.
This is the description of the design, or
the scratching: Two stakes Joined at their
topmost parts by horizontal BAR the
stake on the left Is fianked by a ladder
and a rope; from that on the right hangs
only rope. One sees a human figure on
that stake a mountebank climbing the rope
to reach the horizontal bar. according TO
Prof. Gatti; a soldier preparing, hammer
in hand, the details of the execution, ac-
cording to Prof. MarucchD; and above Il
come writing, 70 wit; Palus or PLUS, Cres-
tos, Pietus or Filetus, and NJ, and the
mention of a Claudius who cannot close
bis eyes.
Between the letter NJ and the word
Palus is a gap, which, according to Prof.
Marucchi, ought TO be filled in thus: At
ter NJ should follow ors, signifying death,
and meaning in conjunction with Palus
and Crestos, that this Is the stake on
which the chief culprit Cnestos was exc
cuted." which Is certainly a very large
order But we are TO have a pamphlet ON
the subject In a short time, and the actual
reproduction Of the find may help us 20
form our own conclusion.
Prof Marucchi writes to the Rome pa
pers as follows:
Several journals have exaggerated the
importance OF the communication which /
made privately TO some friends as TO the
possible Interpretation of sketch
scratched upon the wall in the palace of
Tiberius on the Palatine. There are many
Indications that this drawing may refer
70 the Cruciflxion, from the action of the
figures and the place represented. But
the inscription written above the scene
is exceedingly difficult to declpher, and
requires further study. 1t appears, how
ever from the examination made within
the last few days, that certain phrases re-
ported without my authority by the above
mentioned journals have no connection
with the scene depicted. Besides. / have
not yet published anything on the SUBJ
ject. The first impressions were given BY
me under reserve, for Interior studies.
and have not authorized any one to pub
\ 1ish them