The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-08
AN ANCIENT FIND In OLD ITALY.
The Discovery Interesting DAYS of Numa Pom
piz Reveals Many Things to the Student of Gays
AWAY
Long Passed Away.

monument in a land where every stick
ana stone is fragment of antiquity
whose very dust is cIassic-here in
something for the representatives of q
mushroom civilization to marvel at!
AT the instigation of Sig. Guido Bac-
ceiil, Minister of Public Instructions"
the leading archaeologistss and classical
students of Rome and of all Italy are
now engaged in deciphering the in
Scorpions whose discovery they consid-
CT a historical event.
Inc riddles on this antique monu-
ment have not yet been completely
read The untold centuries of its I'M
foreground sojourn have partially
erased its strongly carved lettering.
moreover, nations have developed
and declined, learned tongues and for
gotten them again since these sem
fences were framed. Before venturfnz
to read them a man must have spent
his life in learning
Nevertheless, the scholars who have
undertaken the task have succeeded
marvellously. And they agree that the
monument was erected and inscribed
during the reign of Numa Pompilius,
second King of Rome, of whose, good
ness and wisdom every schoolboy can
tell the story. Many scholars, previous
to the discovery of this monument.
would have told you that there never
was any Numa Pompilius, that the
story of the first seven Kings of Rome
was a harmless. semi-mythica1 eIabor-
alton of something much more com-
monplace.
This monument bears out history so
far as to prove that there was a good
King Numa, who for the enlightenment
and guidance of his people framed
many wise laws. Certain of this law
making, that which related to the reli-
gious and moral aspects of Roman life,
he relegated to the priests. And it was
the heads of certain college of priests
who wrote these laws to be set up
where all Rome might see and obey.
The Roman people of to-day who still
cherish the pretty myth of the ancient
founder of their city-Romulus. the
VOLTS foundling-are interested in the
fact that the monument now attracting
SO much attention was found directly
under Romulus' supposed tomb.
The site of this tomb has long been
supposed to be marked by the 'Lapis
Niger" a broad piece of pavement,
made of antique black marble.
It is almost under the arch of Senti-
mus Severus, in the northwest corner
meath the Lapis Niger were begun only
recently under the direction of Sig.
Baccelli.
The discovery of the monument,
which lay very deeply buried, was NOT
made until a few months ago. 1t was
found in three sections-two enormous
bases of stone, Joined together, which
originally served to support the colos-
sal monument, and at the east Of these,
the middle and top sections of the mon
ument. No illustration could give an
idea of the vast size of the original pile
of stone which must have dominated
the entire city and all it's surroundings
Near the fragments of the monument,
imbedded in soft sandstone. were found
other relies which strongly illuminate
the life and customs of the Pompilian
period. Among these are bronze figures,
terra-cotta urns and bronze disks and
ornaments and bas-reliefs, all in a fair-
ly good state of preservation.
One of the most curious features of
the inscription on the monument is
that it is written vertically. The char
acters are notifications of the ancient
Greek. and the lines are to be read
from right to left. These difficulties are
slight, however, in comparison with the
fact that the grammar and construc-
ton are at variance with all accepted
rules of Latin grammar and with the
preserved literature of Rome
Language had not crystallized into
grammar or grown into literature in
Numa's time.
1t is agreed, however, that there are
about six laws, each bearing on the me-
cessity of moral life. and several ex-
alting the majesty of Jupiter. Their
connection with the principles and
practices attributed to Numa is plain.
and many of the later laws of Rome
may now be clearly traced to these.
There they stood. craven on deathless
stone, in the heart of the great city.
where whole nations must read them.
The scholars who have read these laws
were asked also why a monument of
such colossal size should have been
found in sections lying wide apart No
ordinary phenomenon would account