The Washington times., 1901-07-14
THE BAsILICA AEMILIA.
Splendid Ruins Recently UHearthed
in the Roman Forum.

in the Roman Forum.
The workmen Of the Roman Forum.
under the direction OF Signor B0ni, have
lately been clearing as much OF the sur
face of the Basilica Aemilia as possible
without endangering the houses which
stand on the top of the embankment
some thirty feet above. The embankment
and the houses still prevent a large, and
probably the most important, part Of the
Basiiica from being cleared, SO much SO
that several valuable archaeological frag-
ments have to be left partially embedded
because their removal would endanger
the solidity of the embankment and the
stability OF the houses. But the recent
work has enabled accurate calculation TO
be made of the exact extent Of the Ba-
silica and its original position. Pending
the generosity of some donor who will
supply the s4.0O0 necessary to appropriate
the houses. it is interesting 70 state the
facts as they are at present known.
The Basilica AemiIia is situated be
tween the temple of Antoninus and Faus-
tina and the Curia: it faced southwest.
running for 10 metres Cabout 10 yards)
along the Sacred Way. The depth was
IS metres and its area about 5000 square
metres. The right side facing the tenn
pie of Antoninus and Faustina. ran at
right angles 10 the front. but the left
side parallel to the Curia, was oblique
A wide row Of steps in Greek marble led
from the Sacred Way up TO a majestic
portico. seven yards wide, in the Doric
-tyle. The portico consisted of sixteen
arches, built entirely Of marble blocks
! richly carved with bucrania and rosettes
1 The first archway to the right was con-
nected with the temple Of julius Caesar
/ By kind of arched flying buttress. which
! formed a triumphal archway across the
I Via Sacra- It seems that the great mar
I BILE inscription dedicated 10 Lucius adopt
! ed son Of Augustus, belonged TO this tri-
umphal arch All the fragments Of the
/ inscription are still lying where they fell
when the Basilica was destroyed, and
/ where they were found in the summer
I Of 1893 during the excavation OF the site
presented 20 the Italian Government by
Lionel Phillips.
Behind the pOrticO and corresponding
! TO each Of its arches were the Tabernae,
Of which the foundation walls and some
valuable fragments Of the dividing walls
and pavements still exist. The pavement
was made Of various kinds OF marble in
/ the so-called Alexandrins style. The di-
1iding walls OF the Tabernae served to
Z support the wall Of the great internal
hail built of tufa blocks OF this haI d
+ Jart still exists. The hall. which was
sbout twenty-five yards wide, was dl-
yided into three naves Of which the
central one measured fifteen yards be-
/ tween the columns and the two lateral
ones five and a half yards each. The
rayes were divided by two colonnades,
/ each consisting Of two rows OF columns
placed one above the other. The lower
row was Of African marble. and sup
ported a rich and exquisitely carved
! cornice Of Greek marble. Round the cor
4 nice ran a sculptured frieze in high re-
/ lief, beautifully wrought On the cornice
rested the upper row Of columns. which
( were monoliths Of African marble and
I which, like the lower columns. supported
a richly carved marble cornice. Into the
upper cornice fitted the transversal sup
( ports Of the roof.
/ The pavement Of the lateral nayes was
| OF sextilc works. and that OF the central
/ nave consisted Of large squares OF African
/ marble, Of Porta Santa from the Island
1 Of Chios. OF Gallo Antco, Of green Eu-
/ boean cipollino. Of pavonazzeto. or Phry-
I gian marble. and other rare stones. The
same marbles were used to cover the
( walls.
The most wonderful part OF the Basih-
I ca. regarded as a work Of art, was the
I TrlbunaH. Of which many fragments have
( come TO light, such as Easements, piias-
I tiers, aud capitals. All these fragments
are carved In the best style Of the epoch
! Of Augustus. and are being reproduced
10 serve as models for the various italian
( schools Of arts and crafts. The parts OF
I the Basilica hitherto cleared are those
most damaged and robbed by the vandals
/ of the fifth and sixth centuries a. ID.
| The parts stll buried beneath the en-
bankInent, though not intact appear from
| their position likely 10 have been much
less devastated, so that their excavation
/ would yield results still more valuable
/ than those already obtained. Even at
| present an astonishing quantity Of frag-
ments OF marble columns has been found
together with bas-reiiefs. sculptures in
| Phrygian marble. Grecian marble, marble
candelabra. portions Of porphyry statues
and architectural ornaments OF all kinds
Rome correspondence Of the London
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