Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-01-28


shape, 291 by 204 feet, SO you can
imagine how large the structure must
have been. Below it are underground
passages similar to those of the Coli
scum, leading 10 dungeons for pris-
oners, and dens for animals. and
there were arrangements for flooding
ii when a nautical play was to be CIV
en-. This splendid ruin was almost
perfectly preserved until 1922. when
an idiot of governor OF Seville had
most OF the walls pulled down to get
material for building purposes. which
he might have found equally as well
and plentifully IN u quarry near by.
Grass and wild flowers grow luxur-
iously. covering the lead city with
brilliant shroud, and this morning
herd OF sheep was grazing upon the
former site of palaces In which one
OF the greatest and noblest OF the
Roman emperors-the good Trajan'--
was born. Hadrian and Theodoslus,
his successors, were born here also,
and contributed much to the magni'
ficence and prosperity of their native
city The palace of TraJan. small
but beautiful example of Grecian ar
chitecture. was preserved In excellent
condition until the earthquake of 1855
threw down its walls. and the marble
was soon carted away.
Very little has been done in the way
of excavation, although 1t ought to be
a prolific field for the archaeologist
and antiquarian. Occasionally piow
turns mp handful OF coins, which
excites the avarice of the entire nei-
ghborhood. The people then aband-
on their regular occupations and stir
things around in lively manner for
awhile. Five years ago man found
copper box filed with money of the
coinage of the Caesars. Several
pieces are in the museum. And last
spring burial vault was struck,
which contained a dozen or more lead
collins, which can now be seen in the
museum. with the bones and articles
of adornment they contained. 1t Is
estimated that they were buried in
the second or third century. These
accidental discoveries indicate what
might be expected from systematic
and scientific excavation, but the
Sevillanos are more given to pleasure
than to archaeology. and, as the di-
rector of the museum said, postpone
the work until they have more time
and money.
But they have plenty of time to
make bogus antiquities, and the sec
ond shops are full of clever imi-
tations of silver. furniture. bronzes
and bric-a-brac of the fourteenth and
fifteenth centuries. There is no law
as in France, to punish frauds. but
they seem to be encouraged, because
the victims are almost always foreign
ers. and 1t causes them to leave much
money in Spain. where it is much
needed. But there are two or three
characteristic articles that cannot be
initiated. A stranger Is always safe
in buying brocades. embroideries,
fans and leather. but, there being no
factories to reproduce them, they are
getting very scarce. and good bar
gains are rare nowadays.
Italica was not only the birthplace
OF three emperors, but also of Herman
died there December. l547 and was
buried in the quaint old Church OF
st. Isadore, which was built in 1901
by Guzman "the Good" one of the
early kings. His wife and a lot OF
little Guzmans lie beside him. Here
also is buried Donna Urraca Osorio,
a famous beauty of Seville. who re-
jected the amorous advances of King
Pedro, 'the Cruel" and to escape his
opportunities fed to Italica and hid in
convent. That amiable gentleman
was so angry at being scorned that
he had her burned alive in the market
place-a warning to other ladies' that
he might admire in the future. Her
maid went voluntarily with her to the
stake. a remarkable case OF devotion.
After his return from Mexico Cortes
served in the army of Charles V. and
did valiant service in Africa, but he
does not seem to have profted much
by the treasures he captured in Mex
leo, nor by his sovereign's favor. for
he died poor. His ashes are no long
er here. The gnfjes say that they
were removed to Mexico in 1923.
which was soon after Mexican inde.
pendence.
AS ltalica Is the noblest reminder we
have of the Roman period at Seville,
the AlcaZar Palace Is the most splen-
did relic of the Moors, although it has
been enlarged. altered and restored
several times under the reign of the
Christian kings. The Vandals sue.
ceeded the Romans. and held the
place until the year 53l. when the
Goths came in, and they in turn were
driven out by the Moors In 5S4 From
that date for almost 700 years Sew
lille was the Moorish capital and the
Alcazar was the residence of the sui
tan. Under them Seville enjoyed its
greatest wealth and glory. 1t was the
emporium of the world. The records
show that 100000 people were employ
ed in the silk trade alone, which has
now entirely vanished The city was
the pride of the Saracens. who adorn,
ed 1t with their refined taste, and its
schools. like its factories, and its pal
aces, were famous over the universe
When the Spaniards came in 124S,
and the Moors were driven to Gran