The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-30

there are square chambers large enough | to admit apparatus for working a kind sf 1 are worn down by rope marks--a sign that heavy objects must have been raised and lowered through them. Some of the elm beams which served as windlasses were found in the galleries. The most probable explanation is that the galleries were used as an armamentarium during the Caesarian games. which took place in the Forum, prior to the construction of the amphitheatre. The most probable date of their construction is about 45 B. C., dur. ing the lifetime of Julius Caesar; and the Aretine vases, the coins ana other
 databIe objects found in the galleries show that they must have been abandon cd during the reign of Augustus. q, galleries has had to be suspended owing to the intiltration of water, but as soon as the municipality has arranged prop CT outlet for the C1oaca Maxima opera tions will be resumed. It is easy to inn agine the hustle which must have gone on In these galleries durinls the Caesarian games when scene shifting and stage car pentering had to be done. or when ban quets had to be served. The g9leries could certainly contain several scores of workmen at time.
 Another important discovery of the year Is the volcanale. or original rock. cut perpendicularly so as to form Kind of rostrm near the Senate House before the regular rostra were constructed. The rock still bears traces of the red plaster with which 1t was covered in the time or the kings. The discovery has completed the series of rostra which represented the tribunals of the common people. Of the curiols arched chambers under the im- perial rostra descriptions have previously been given, and Slgnor Boni's hypothesis that they served as a repository for the bronze rams or rostrat O. the enemies captured ships is still the only credible explanation Of thetr purpose.
 In other parts Of the Forum excavations have led to the discovery of the site of the temple of Jupiter Stator, near the arch of Titus. and to the unearthing or the bases of the arch itself so that its original proportions nray be seen and us history imagined from the different lev els of the marks made by wheels as they rubbed against its sides. At the same time work has been pushed forward be- hind the church of Santa francesca fo- mana, where the graceful aroades erect tions of the temple of Venus and Rome have been rendered visible. Tn oid cloisters and rooms of the convent are being converted into museum for the principal objects found during the Forum excavations.
 Much careful reconstruction has been done in the Palatine Basiica, commonly known as Santa Maria Antiqua As in evitably happens whenever buried fres- coes are brought to light, their freshness gradually disappears. and 1t becomes inn possible to form an idea of their original beauty unless they are carefuily damPeu with a wet cloth or brush. As this pro- cess if often repeated. would. naturaiiy. damage the frescoes. Signor Boni has had them carefully copied by special artists who have succeeded in reproducing the frescoes with perfect color and accuracy These copies will be placed in the new Forum Museum at Santa Francesca Ro- mana, where they will he accessible to all visitors Signor Boni is also bridging over the gap which now exists In the winding tiled slope that leads from me side of the Palatine Basilica mp to the PaIstine hill. This operation is one or great delicacv. but when completed, It will enable the true relation of the Pala- tine to the Forum to be understood. es- pecially when the Nieus Tuscus has been thoroughly cleared of earth and the Tenn ple of Castor and PolluX completely iso- isted. It will then be possible to clear the whole of the foot of the Palatine hill and to pass along it by the baptistry of San Theodorus and the Byzantine church of Santa Anastasia to tho Circus Max mus.
 In comparison with undertakings of such importance the discovery of the splendid mosaic pavement of the house of the vestals and of other details of the ritual and sacerdotaI edihces of the Ro- mans seem almost insignificant, but they prove the theories of some /earlier exca- Vators concerning the asceticism of the life and dwellings of ths Vastals to be far from the truth.
 I-ntil Signor Boni has completed the series of reports to the government which he is now writing. 1t. will ivt be possible. for others than professional archaeolo- gists to form a connected ide\ of the light thrown bv his discoveries on the life of the Forum as whole and Its place In the organization of the Roman state. In the meantime the Italian government may he congratulated on possessing so intelligent and indefatigable an official and on having seconded his efforts to eIucidate one of the most interesting problems of human history.