The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-22
A()NULUS' IOhBFON)ND
BLACK Stone" Referred to By
Ancient Classic Writers.
CfSAR'S FUNERAL PYRE
Also Rewards the ExcavatorS
of Ancient Rome.

Rome. Jan. B.-Since I last wrote you
last December, the excavations in the
Forum have been steadily continued. The
exploration of the Temple of Vesta Is
completed. After clearing away the en-
numbering earth, brick walls were found.
These. built in the center of the mound
tern side had been destroyed in some past
age. The others seem, from the excellent
character of the work, to be of the time
of Hadrian but as no stamped bricks were
found, it is not possible to be sure OF the
date. Near the bottom of the chamber
formed by the walls a brick with the
| words Rec On Theodore Bono Rome came
to light. This, however, did not belong
| 10 the walls, but is evidence that as was
| the case in respect 10 many other build
| ings in Rome, Theodore interested him
self in the preservation of the Temple of
Vesta. What purpose was served by the
walls cannot be told. Were they built by
| Hadrian TO support the superstructure, or
| did they form a chamber for the ashes of
the sacred fire which were taken off once
Il year and thrown away by the Porta
| Stercoraria? OF small objects but few
were found. A splendid boar's tusk and
| one or two Roman bronze coins of late
| date were turned up Much more numer-
| Gus were the fragments of vases ranging
in date from our times to the end of the
| fifth century before Christ. These shards
were as a whole of but little value, but
among them was one small piece that is
| of sufficient interest to make up for the
guinness of all the rest. 1t Is "a bit OF
a Greek red-figured vase Of the end Of the
Strong style. and shows the figures of
two warriors in combat. 1t was found
deep down among the foundations. Its
| interest is in the suggestion it affords that
such were the vases used by the Vestals
for their own needs and those of the god
dess. How else could such fragment
have got so deep down below the temple?
Such has proved to be what L9ncani
| TO mention only one, but he the latest.
among many writers on the subjectcN de-
scrihed as "a shapeless mass of concrete!"
| What viii first strike the attention cf
4 whcey er now. returning to Rome. goes -
\ me Forum, is the Honorary Coluwn. Once
more 1t stands erect and fulfills its pur-
pose; for though we do not know 10 whom
| IL was originally set up, II serves hence
! forth as an honorable monument 10 Min
| lister Baccelli and TO his 'braccia destrs."
| Signor Boni without whom its disdained
| fragments would still be cluttering the
| ground. There is no question that the
| column stood originally not directly on the
| existing brick base but, like the Column
OF Phocas, on a marble pedestal placed
| between the base and the shaft. This
| pedestal has not been found. Consequently
some were in favor of doing nothing with
| the column, while others thought it had
best be placed directly on the brick base.
Fortunately neither of these courses were
| followed, but pedestal of brick was made
of the same proportions as the pedestal OF
| the Column of Phocas, and on this the
| column stands. This Is clearly the proper
| solution of the question. To erect the
| column on the base without any 1edest1l
would have been to make an architectural
abortion which no one with anv under
standing of architecture could advise. As
| in the case Of the brick support Of the aed-
icula of the Atrium Vestae, this brick
| pedestal is not a restoration or in any way
deceptive. 1t merely serves to set the
column in its proper relation to the base
and to the neighboring buildings.
work that does not attract much
visual attention, but which adds greatly to
the attractiveness of the Forum, Is the
| closure OF the opening made by Rosa
years ago into the Cloaca Maxima at the
eastern end Of the Basiica Julia. The
| constant stencil that arose from the sewer
made the neighborhood disgustful, ana the
only reason for the original making Of the
| hole. or for now leveling It, was that in
quisitive tourists might look at this an
/ Gent drain. There are so many oooor-
J tunities for the satisfaction OF the vel
'ow" curiosity that enjoys such sights.
| that this hole seemed needless. and it re-
! quired only a few moments consideration
/ on the spot to convince Minister Baccelli
| that it had best be closed.
| Another small but much required under
| taking was the insertion of some iron bars
in the base of the Temple of Saturn TO
| clamp together the blocks which showed
| ominOus signs OF giving away and letting
I the su2erstructure crash down. Siznor
! Boni has seen 10 this, and the Temple is
| safe for a long time 10 come.
! So far ! have described matters Of i'm
! portance. but in no way surprising or ex-
/ citing. Two discoveries have been made.
/ however. the interest attaching to which
/ could scarcely be surpassed in connection
/ with the history of Rome. One OF these is
l The base OF the column set up where Cae-
! ser's body was burned, and one the black
/ stone" which was supposed 10 mark the
/ burial place of Romulus. For what more
I could one ask? After the exploration OF
/ the Temple OF Vesta was completed. Sig
| nor Boni turned his attention TO the Tenn
! pie OF Caesar. As all who have studied
/ the topography Of the Forum VIII remem-
/ Der. Seutonius tells Of column Of Numi-
/ dian marble (Which we call gallo autico)
/ dedicated parents pa;riae on the spot where
/ Caesar was burned. An alter also was
/ paced there. but this vas destroyed be-
I cause the worship Of Caesar was u.ezaL
f Afterwards Augustus built. as ne tells Us
! in his photographs inscription. the Tenn
( pie OF Julius Late authors say that the
| temple stood on the site OF the funeral
( pyre. and ii Is scarcely conceivable thai
/ Augustus should have DESTROYED tha
/ column Those who know the Forum vii
/ recall that in the front wall of the poitur1
OF the Temple % Julius there Is semi
I circular recess. il front OF which stands a
vaE % tufa- This tufa wal does not close
the recess % al access. bnt merely makes
/ = necessary 20 enter from the sides. The
waH * OF late origin-proba5ly. 10 Judge
| from the construction, OF the taird ~
/ forth century OF cur era Il there sas
one spot where more than aonywhere else
one would have sought for traces OF The
marble column, /; vas in the zoaee be-