The Washington times., 1901-12-22

seven centuries before the Christian err.
The grave with the other objects around
H. among them q large platform. probably
meant FOR use in Offering sacrifices 20 the
dead. answered all The anticipatiCns Of
the discoycrcr.
Accumulation oT Centuries.
The whole was imbedded in saerincial
remains-small vases, statuottcs that PER
haps represented outrrcvn human sacri-
fees. and the charrcG bones OF bulls,
sheep. goats. and other animals Careful
study has proved tha these relics were
the accumulation OF centuries OF ancient
worship. The stone lions. pillar. and
stcle had, however. been partly domol-
ished. possibly, as is believed by many
archaeologists, in $50 .. c., when the
barbarian Gauls came to look at the
Senate" and the Capitol situated on an
elevation. was saved by the warning
cackle OF the sacred geese as the Gauls
stealthily approached to attack it. The
Senate. it will be remembered. met death
in a body. and the city was given over 10
sack and pillage.
Nn,I the Romans Tegained possession
OF the city their first act was 20 purify II
from the presence of the invaders. II was
then. according to the theories of Prof.
Rudolfo Lanciani, whose writings are per-
haps better known in this country than
those OF any other Italian arch2eolOgist,
that the first black stone pavement was
placed over the destroyed Heroon. and the
original purpose OF the spot began 10 lose
its identity.
Oldest Roman writing.
OF the objects found under the old pave
ment. the stele, with It's archaic inscrip-
ton, has naturally aroused the greatest
interest. Even if its antiquity is not ac-
tually so great as Prof Lanciani and sew
eral other authorities believe, the inscrip
ton still remains the Oldest bit OF Roman
writing that has come down TO US, fire and
the Gauls having destroyed practically
everything else OF equal age. It is an
illustration OF the hard and fast rules
covering the ancient Roman sacrifices.
and. as translated by Prof. Ceci, the cpl
graphist OF the University OF Rome, was
somewhat as follows:
whoever desires to immediate cows. hC
should do it by the shrine. Sos should
be inundated away from the shrine. The
ritual cakes used in sacrificing should Ue
brought to the Rex Sacr5rum at the time
OF tho full moon. whoever desires 10 I'M
rnolate COWS. or sows having obtained
leave from the Rex Sacrorum through the
Kalator. must take the auspices and pre-
seat his votive offerings. The same rules
mus, he followed when sacrifices are per
formed at the first quarter Of the moon.
Nhozoever disreeards the laws concern
Ing the auspices and voiiye offerings, let
him be sacred 10 Jupiter"
or Greek Origin.
What the rest Of the inscription was
viii probably never be known, only about
a third OF the stele having escaped dc
s;ruction. but 1t VIII be seen that this
portion gives an excellent picture Of
The sacriGciaI customs Of very early Ro-
man period The Kalator was minor
official attending the Rex sacrorum. or
chlef OF sacrifices. and person sacred
to Jupiter" became himself a potential
sacriGce--in other words. he was without
the law. and could be killed by anybody
who cared TO perform that service.
The language Of the inscription abounds
in words that do not appear In later
Latin. which is Of course. another proof
OF It's antiquity. and strongly confirms the
statements Of early Roman writer's that
ancient treaties ard the laws OF the kings
were engraved Oh wood and stone in
words. many OF which had even then be-
come unintelligible to contemporary
scholarship. The letters, which at first
glance suggest Greek, but are later found
TO make Roman words, are another inter
esting evidence OF extreme age, for the
primitive Romans are now known 20 have
borrowed many OF the letters Of their
early alphabet from Greek. with which
they became acquainted by way OF the
neighboring town OF Caere.
Widely Differing Opinions.
The extreme antiquity of the old steie
is not admitted by all archaeologists.
There are two schools Of Roman archaeol-
ogists. who may be compared to the op-
posing forces of the famous Shakespeare
Bacon dispute. The extreme skeptics re-
fuse 10 admit that Romulus ever existed.
and are inclined to place the early Roman
writer's In the catalogue OF romanticists
rather than historians. Their side OF the
controversy naturally denies Prof Ian
S'~hi th'vis tHat HoueIu investigation
has found the actual Heroon Of Romulus.
Whether or not, however, the new Har-
ward cast really reproduces an inscription
intended for those who came to Worship
az the grave Of the founder Of Rome, the
antiquity of the stele Is indisputable. II
may be added that the Harvard authorities
themselves stand between these extremes
Of criticism. declaring that the inscrip-
tiOn certainly dates back to 500 b. c. and
very likely TO an even earlier period.