The evening times., 1899-09-12
THE TOMB OF RoMULUs.
What Is Thought to BE the Grave of
the Founder of Rome.

(From the Philadelphia RecordD
Even the most enterprising and enthusi-
astic of archaeologists and historians might
have doubted whether there could be any
further prospect of discoveries CT great
Importance 10 be made in the Roman Fo-
rum. For at least two generations the
work of excavation has progressed, slowly.
it is true, but steadily, upon that most
interesting site-the most interesting. out
side the Holy Land, in the whole world
With the uncovering of the Via Sacra still
paved with the Identical stones trodden by
the feet of the Romans of the republic and
of the empire. and over which passed on its
way to the capitol many a famous impe-
rial triumph with the discovery of the
House of the Vestal Virgins; OF the ros
tra of the site of the Temple of Julius
Caesar where his funeral pyre was raised:
and of many ether scarcely less interest
ing localities, one might well have imag
ined that all had been found that was ever
likely to be found and felt thankful that so
much remained after the storm and stress
of 1000 years.
But the scientific and intelligent use of
the spade works wonders. Schiemann
taught us that at Hissarlik on the site OF
ancient Troy and at Mycennae, where a
whole epoch of the worlds history came to
light. And now SignOr Bacelli. the Italian
Minister OF Public instruction, has again
brought the spade into play on the Forum
with results which have astoniShed even
those who believed that the impsrfectiy
explored portions of the site would yield
! interesting secrets. That the tomb of
Romulus himself. the founded of the Eter-
nal City would be one Of the discoveries
seemed incredible; but it is certain that
in the pavement of black marble uncover
ed near the arch of Septimius Severus the
excavations have laid bare the iapis niger
black stone-which was vensrated by
generation after generation of Romans as
the place where Romulus was buried. the
legend CT his having been caught up to the
sky among the gods Notwithstanding.
The BLACK Stone" is referred to by Var
ro, who wrote in the century before Christ,
and by Festus, three centuries after. who
says of it:
Niger Lapi5 in Coniito locum funestum
Significat ut ali Ronidfi morti destinatum.
The Comitium vas an open lobby of
the Roman Senate, and the Senate House
itself, or Curia. was where the Church St
StI Adriano now stands, part of its walls
being built into those OF the church. There,
then in the place pointed out by the old
! historians and topographers, Signor Bacelli
found the sacred site. The lapis niger is a
pavement Of thick black marble. partly
enclosed by low wall of upright Traver-
| tine slabs fixed in stone socket or trough
proof of the care Wis., which it was
guarded 1t is noteworthy, said Signor
Borsari, writing from Rome at the time
when the pavement. was discovered, that
| the marble of Ire slabs is very rare even
| in Rome where all Kinds of white and COL
I ored marbles known TO the ancients can be
! seen in the various monuments. II is some
i Toenarian marble from the Laconian quar-
ries of the Peloponnesus, easily known by
( the fine white Veins which ran through the
/, opaque black grain Of the stone.