The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-27
Some Recent Important and In
teresting Discoveries in
Ancient Forum.
eLADIAToRIAL SHOW RELICS.
Patient and Methodical Explora-
tons of Commissioner Boni
Described by Fl. Stuart
Jones'
BY H. STUART JONES.

Rome Dec. 25.-In the Forum Commits
sloner Boni whose patient and methodical
explorations continue to merit the highest
praise, has once more been richly re-
warded
Work has been carried on at different
points. In the very early metropolis hard
by the Temple of Antonius and Faustina
has been discovered Greek vase belong
ing TO the class of (so-calleD. "Proto-
Corinthian' lekythi, proof that burials
continued to take place in this quarter as
late as, roughly speaking. 700 3. c
The work Of restoring the Rostra Is al
most complete, and Commissioner Boni
has been able to determine with certainty
the position OF almost every fragment of
its cornice
But the great discovery OF the year IS
that OF large base of concrete which
must at one time have supported colos-
sal monument occupying central position
IN the area OF the Forum
The base measures about forty feet by
twenty feet. and in its lower portion some
of the beams and planks used in setting
the concrete are still embedded.
,eries Which Gom mi sS Boni BELIEVES s to
have been constructed by Julius Caesar
in connection with gladiatorial shows.
In the upper surface are embedded three
large travertine sockets, in which the sup
ports of the monument are fixed What,
then, was this monument?
Commissioner Boni does not hesitate to
identify IL as the EcuuS Domitiani,
colossal equestrian statue of Domitian, de-
ecribed by Status in the Silvae. The po-
sitionS Of the sockets, he argues, CORE
Epond with those Of the legs OF the En-
having been raised.
that the base occupies precisely the posi-
A FA lSs TEMPLE Il Of JULIUS.
In other words, the statue faced the
temple of Julius, while those Of Vespasian
and Concord lay behind It.
To the right was the Basihca Julia, to
the left the Basilica Aenlia, while the
EmperoTs gaze was fixed on the Palatino
and Atrium Vestae.
covered base is 50 exact that 1t is difficult
to escape from the conclusion drawn by
Commissioner Boni.
The statue, which was IN all probability
destroyed after the damnatio memoriae
of Donitian, seems to have been about six
times life size.
terranean galleries referred TO above, the
base contains fragments Of black marble
which seem to have belonged to the IA
nous niger lapis"
ever, far surpassed by that which attaches
TO the excavations begun in August on the
site OF the Arts Pecis Augustae. which lies
partly under the PalaZZo Ffano Ottoboni
and partly under the adjoining via in Lu-
Gina Some account of these has already
been given to English readers by Prof.
lanciani in The Athenaeum OF October 81.
where will be found an excellent summary
OF the history both Of the destruction and
also of the discovery OF the monument.
1T should a be added that Won on, BUM ,h was
eculptured panels found on the site in the
Sixteenth Century belonged to the Ara
Pacis, and that Prof. Petersen's mono
graph in 1894. mentioned by Prof. Lam
ciani. was superseded last year by a much
more elaborate treatise by the same
author; published by the Austrian Archae
In this most excellent and scholarly
work the restoration Of tie monument.
some Of whose fragments have found
their way to our own country, is ex-
haustively discussed. Had the author de-
ferred mis- publication until the excavations
recently begun were complete, many prob
lens for which he was only to furnish
solution by acute conjecture would have
been solved in much simpler manner.
A high tribute to his sagacity. however.
Is implied in the fact that, although his
restoration has been proved to be inexact
in some details. in its main lines it is in
dubitably correct
The Ara Pacis Augustae. which incor-
porated more fully than any other monu-
ment the spirit of the Golden Age, COM
memorated the return of Augustus from
the Western provinces n q B. c., and the
SSAAPAcNAOl vi
the establishment of the Pax Romano
throughout the Empire.
Both the day on which the Senate re-
eolved to consecrate the Altar of Peace
Gully 4. B. c. 49, and that on which ii
was finally dedicated Jan 80 B. c. 81 be-
came festivals of the Roman calendar
:. The monument included not merely the
Altar of Peace itself. but also the pre-
cinct in which II stood and the inclosing
wall. whose sculptured panels form the
masterpiece Of Ausustan sculpture.
TWO BANDS OF RELIEF.
Along the outer face ran two bands of
-entioaal systems Of branches foliage
and flowers. instinct with. animal life.
while the upper and more important
Augustus himself, with his family. as well
as the great ecclesiastical dignitaries of
Imperial Rome. takes part; as well as
The inner face has likewise two bands
Of which the lower, If Petersen's con-
lecture be right, represents the woodwork
Is decorated with festoons of fruit and
flowers, together with bucrania and in
struments Of sacrifice.
The interest of the recent excavations
centers mainly in two points-hrst, the
plinth upon which the Enclosure wall
rested has been undiscovered in stu, as
well as the base Of the altar. Thus. the
be exactly determined
Secondly, numerous panels of the frieze
have already, been brought to light. and
others may be expected to follow in due
course. The main interest of course. at
taches to the band representing the process
sion; and here slab of high Importance
has been unearthed in the last few days
1t has been mentioned above that the
fricze represents Augustus followed by the
chief members of the priesthood and of
his own family; ana the Identification of
the extant figures has naturally been a
fruitful source OF discussion among
archaeoiogistst
IN ,-ta ~,
given in an extremely acute article by
Won Domazewski. recently published in
the Jahreshefte of the Austrian Archae-
illogical Institute. 1t is there shown that
the procession represented is that which
took place when the precinct was conse-
Grated in 13 B. c.. and many Of the indi-
vidual figures are identified in convin-
cling manner.
The. writer is. however. less successful
in conjecturing the subjects of the lost
panels The newly discovered block fills
served in the ufiizi at Florence.
It is not completely exposed to view,
but il is beyond doubt that upon 1t were
represented two. at least. of the greater
fiamineS-perhaps the Ffameu Quirinalis
and the F1amen Martialis-with their at
PENDANTS. while Won Domanszewski main
.ained that the Rex Sacrorum twho may
indeed have occupied a position on the
as yet unexposed portion), together with
Livia and Julia. the wife and daughter
Of the Emperor, We're to be sought in
this position.
1t will be seen that the further prog
ress of the excavations will be awaited
with extraordinary interest.
Unfortunately. the work. which is being
carried on under the able direction OF
Cav. Pasaui, is attended with great diff
culties. The base of the monument lies
not only eighteen feet below the soil, but
about six feet below the present level of
spring. water, which constantly streams
into tho excavations
4. Moreover. the foundation walls of the
falazzo Faro Ottoboni and other build
fres which traverse the area of the mon
flInennt must be tenderly dealt with. The
excavations Will therefore, shortly be sus-