New-York tribune., 1901-02-03
THE ANCIENT ROMAN FORUM
DEVELOPED BY THE RECENT
EXCAVATIONS
EXCAVATIONS.

A lecture the discoveries made by Professor
Boni and his assistants on and about the site OF
the Roman Forum delivered last evening
under the auspices Of tne Archaeological Institute
OF America, by Professor Samuel Ball Platner. Of
western Reserve University. IN the calisthenlc hall
Of DR.. Julius Sachs's school No i West Fifty
ninth-st The lecturer who IS fresh from the scene
Of these researches. having spent the winter OK
pIoring all that has been laid bare and added 10
the sum Of archaeological knOwledre bv these exca-
vatons by dnt OF thorough familiarity with his
subject and remarkable Gueucy managed 10 con-
vey 70 his audience. within the space OF not more
than an hour and half. synopsis OF all the new
conclusions established IN Roman archaeology. and
all the old conclusions upset since the beginning OF
the work in 1895, His lecture was Illustrated by a
large number OF stereoscopic views
Briefly prefacing the main body OF his address
WIZ some remarks on the great change which these
excavations have wrought in the received ideas of
that Forum, which was the centre OF all tho mol
ttcs and business and Of most Of the ra,toior ~
Rome. Professor Platner began the tour OF the ex
cavatons with the area occupied by the TemDIa
OF Nesta- As much as half again has been added 10
the uncovered portion Of this area on one side ba
ginning al the Nlcus Tuscus and a smaller section
on the opposite side. The whole precinct com,
prlsed three diyisions-the tempe proper the
strIum and the external shrine In the recent
sA'''duohs. besides the raising Of the floor levels
N some cells abutttng the Via Nova probahIy
ioI reasons OF sanitation. and other minor dsco,-
cries there has been established the rositfon ~
'He lohg sewer OF the temple, into which the water
U.s. IN the sacred ceremonial lustratious was
.'o"h' the curious concrete lined cavity has been
discovered which was used as a depository for the
asheS or the sacred fires which ashes were re-
moved once every year and carried out 70 the Port.
o'eI-orarla and the position of the small outsid.
s'''ine mas been determined. which was occllp!ed
oy the statue Of the goddess no statue heinz al
lowed within the temple itself
Ihls temple. distinct from the moro ancient
i'"ple of Festa on the Capitoline Hill was
II9unded in the time Of Domitian restored under
vers we % are @s92 now restored rs under sePtmius Sc
yysg In ~ 9ct the Tempe of Nesta as it
was an epse, exactly 50 Roman feet in diamaf@r
fW+nf, az - wall and externally surrounded by
Rome 5s T0,caied Regi2 in the primitive days of
residence OF the Pontfex Maximus has also bee
~ f61eit@,Ieo @ 70 a satisfactory depth The Regia OF
Area ra occupied in me time Of the Empire by the
ground plan Of opg Il Ts,, Is SHOWN 70 have had
bujjt ~ oI rs walls are exceptional In being
hle slabs. as was common in the buildings or an
Gent , Rome curious, ~ound, chimneyllEe struct-
dj,.isior, 'oasctste s occupying one Of the three
TqisiSioAs OF the Regie has been identified by the
Jde - sacred spears CT Mas are known 10 have been
Professor Platner. with the aid Of hi. eno,a,,
Stereopticon, passed in very rar.d review, num-
ti per Of more or less dsconneosed discoveres in
~ osIs ITtrt OF the Forum. and came to the Temple
OF julius Cesar where curious triple ,,roWned
ing the spot which the body of the drsf cesar
was burned The results Of the excs-atIogs In the
BaSilca Aemllia and the Bacilf-a T1li1 we've
touched 10 upon as exhibiting the evolution of form
" " puonc ouldlng which in the time OF the empire
had becorne something like a combined courthouse
ana merchants exchange In the excavP tions OF
ihe FORMER Sasilica there IS every reason 10 he
neve thar the position Of the ancient shrine of
venus Cloacina at which the Romans and Sabines
termined ' '' N Wv
Perhaps the most important correction OF former
peneIs as 70 the dates OF ancient Roman remains
IS n regard to the famous Clonaca Maxima which
mas long been held up 10 schoolboys IN its
hnlshed integrity as monument OF Roman srchi-
IscluTaI ana engineering ability In the DAYS
Kings. II now appears that this great sewer was
m not al nIst built in its covered form. hut begun
marsh. In which the Roman narketplace was Set
q up; then was covered ever at much later period
Ihe recent excavations IN the Forum all but
conclusive evidence that the second these three
stages Was only reached about the year 200 p. c.