The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1902-01-09
ANCIENT RELICS.

An ltaIlan gentleman mas pre-
sented to the writer some quite !
interesting relics which were found |
in the donors country. Among |
the number is a tiny vase taken
from the Catacombs of Rome and !
is probably fifteen hundred years !,
old also fragment of an ancient |!
Roman lamp such as is described |
in the Bible as having been used |
by the wise and foolish virgins.
The latter contains in bas-relief |
the figure of gladiator ready for |
the mortal combat. Both in dress |
and feature the figure is entirely
similar to pictures of these char
acters given in modern books.
The most interesting Irelics,
however, are a number of old
coins, some of which are so an
cient that the designs upon them
cannot be recognized. They may
be over two thousand years Of age.
One, though, is remarkably we'll
preserved and distinct. 1t is a
bronze piece about all inch and a
quarter in diameter and bears, on
the diverse side, the profile Of a
remarkably handsome man with
classic features, moustache and
pointed beard and beautiful curl
ing hair. Around the margin of
the piece is the legend, "AvRELI-
vsCAEsARAvG-." The words ale
run together, but they mean Azure
Illus Caesar Augustus. A part of
the last name or another word is
illegible. On the reverse side is
the draped figure of a beautiful
female standing with one arm ex-
tended and the other hand resting
upon some object. At her left is
the letter S.
This coin was struck during the
reign of Marcus Aurelius Antonius
whose portrait it bears, and who
assumed the name or title of
Caesar Augustus. This emperor
assembled the throne in the year of
our Lord 161, and reigned till his
death in A. D. $50. The coin,
therefore, is not older than 1741
years, nor younger than 1922
years. This old coin recalls the
Biblical account of the attempts
made to entrap the Savior, who,
to confound his enemies. called
for coin, and upon being given
one inquired, "Whose image and
superscription is this?" And they
said, Caesar j."
And here it is, sure enough,
both the image and superscription
of Caesar, upon the same kind of
coin that circulated in the Roman
empire when the Son of God
walked the earth. This is one of
the slight proofs of the truth
of the Bible. When the long
buried records Of the past shall
have been fully recovered the old
book will stand fully proved to
the entire satisfaction of the whole
| dCCs
Marcus Aurelius was noted for
his austerity as a heather philos-
opher and for his implacable en-
nifty to Christians" During his
reign Polycarp, who had been a
disciple of Saint John, and Justin
| Martyr were cruelty put to death.
Galen, the great physician, also
lived during the reigh of Aurelius.
How futile are the works of
man when opposed to the will of
God! That religion which this
benighted heather ruler vainly
imagined that he had stamped out
of existence now "covers the earth
as the waters cover the sea-" And
where today are Aurelius, the
Roman religion and empire and
people even? Passed forever from
the face Of the earth into inglo-
rious oblivion. Even the symbol
of their once mighty power rep
resenting nothing OH Gods green
earth nor nought in the waters be-
low it, serves only to be carried
around i'll the pocket Of an Amer
lean citizen as a "lucky penny"
RADIUS VICTOR.