Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-01-24
Restoration of the Ara Pacs of
Augustus.
Augustus.

enthusiastic an interest in them as
they have in the recent discoveries on
the Roman Forum.
In the extensive plain of the Field
of Mars, over a large part of which
the Rome of the Renaissance, as well
as of more modern times, has spread
ITSELF there was in the tenth century,
amongst the countless remains OF
ancient greatness, a statue existing,
which pointed with one finger to the
ground. This gave rise to the suppo-
sition that beneath it a treasure lay
hidden. and one fine day they began
to dig. The explorers soon happened
upon some magnificent mosaics, rep
resenting the seasons of the year, and
the allegorical figures of animals
standing for the signs of the Zodiac.
These proved eventually to be por-
lions of the pediment of the famous
sun-dial of Augustus, but it can easily
be imagined what astonishment, and
what attempts at explanation these
strange and curious objects called
forth at the time. 1t has since been
ascertained that the figure with the
finger pointing earthwards represent
ed the setting sun, whilst on the OPP
posite side there must have been an
other pointing skywards representing
the rising sun; the sun when rising,
would shine on the finger Of the lat
ter, whilst in setting it would in like
manner gild the finger of the former
itc ti,,sT pnf al
these interesting discoveries the
hoped-for treasure itself was not
forthcoming, and the common people
declared that the priests must have
secretly made away with it.
But if this spot conceals no shining
gold, the mere material treasure
sought for by the people of the year
1000 A. D., it nevertheless encloses,
despite the centuries of ruin heaped
upon it, an ideal treasure of art and Of
priceless memories.
The systematic excavations demand
ed by archaeologists and since under
taken by the minister of public in
struction have, as has been said. yield
ed the most satisfactory results. In
fragments, and large blocks of marbles
adorned with reliefs, the foundation
walls of the monument have been
found, so that it is quite possible to
reconstruct the whole in imagination.
1t apparently consisted Of an en-
closed wall of white marble of up
wards of five metres in height, form
I I'd nf I 1N,.
metres square. In the inner space of
this enclosure, whose floor was paved
with white marble slabs, still in good
preservation, stood close to the wall
opposite to the entrance, and raised
on steps, the altar of the deity. 1t is
this beautiful piece of work, frag-
ments Of which have been known and
used for la=is time past in the study
of decorative art in the schools A
Greek scroll separates the lower from
the upper half, which latter is of great
beauty and both as regards historical
and artistic interest is the gem of the
whole monument. A procession un-
folds itself of men, women priests and
children, whose figures, somewhat less
than life size, appear in two rows, one
behind the other, those in the fore
ground in high relief, those behind
being only slightly indicated in quite
low relief. The whole represents
procession moving forward to a sol
emn sacrifice. In the background fol
lowing the lines of the procession are
to be seen temples, the identifying Of
which has given rise to much discus
sion. In the middle of the enclosure
a large door opened on the side of the
Via Flaminia, through which was an
uninterrupted view of the altar and
behind it was another door locking on
to the Campus Martius, used for
bringing in the beasts for sacrifice.
These sculptures undoubtedly repre-
sent the first solemn sacrifice offered
in this place, and as Prof, Peterson
Justly observes, recall to tho life the
original enclosure adorned with fresh
green wre2tbs such as would be placed
around the altar on the occasion OF
the triUmphal return of Augustus.
There are some who recognize in the
reliefs. the figures both Of Augustus
and the most important representa-
tiyes CT his family, and even that of
the Sr9at Julius himself idealaod,
after the manner of the art of that
sine
ANTONIO PASQUINELI.