Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-09-10
HOUSE OF
THE GOLDEN
CUPIDS

The plan of Professor Waldsteln
Cor the excavation of Herculaneum
at International expense has unfor.
tunately failed owing to the objec-
Sions of the Italian government.
But it Is to be remembered that
not all OF Pompeii has yet been un-
covered and that excavations are
now going on In that city from which
so many treasures of antiquity have
already been recovered. IL is pos
sible that any day there may be
herAlded the discovery of some new
treasure which will either give a
new sample of ancient art or key
Co ancient history and Roman life
since Pompeil was thoroughly Ro-
manized.
Last year, says a writer In the
Springfield Republican, a remarka-
Oily Interesting discovery was made
when the so-calel House of the
Golden cRplds was uncovered.
u'he House of the Golden Cupids,
cor the New House." Is, as the
,gnide will tell you, the most recent
excavation Mt Pompeii and was open
sfaupt, II Is located In section 16 Of
region six. near the corner where the
Cicolo III Mercurio intersects the
Strana Stabiane, and directly across
the stfete from the unexcavated re-
gioh fve at the noreast corner of
Nbe city. by studying the crumbllng
Fbank left by the workmen at this
point the traveller readily dlscerns
The vari-colored layers of material
that spread n mantle over the Roman
city beginning with and subsequent
10 the great eruption of 10.
That the excavation Is recent one
as evident from the fact that Baede-
lfer of 1904 makes no mention OF
the New House." and dlllgent
search among books and periodicals
appearing since that year failed Ia
bring to light any writings bearing
upon II.
The New House" does not diner
materially, save In size. perhaps,
from the homes OF other wealthy
Pompelans already uncovered A
few hours IN the city permits of only
a hurried inspection, and unless the
visitor Is conscious of the importance
of some particular excavatlon--as
ne was not In this case-descriptlon
from memory IL apt to err.
Passing In from the street the Wis
itor at oroe enters the peristyle,
which has loggia running around
4ts four sides. aud on which opens
doors leading TO the living and
sleeping rooms OF the house. A large
portion of the peristyle Is lnclosed
with wire fence 10 protect the
HOVER garden growing there, AS per-
haps II did 1000 years ago. Along
Nhe TWO sides OF the garden In
Straight lines are several marble
heads aud busts on pedestals;
broken statues and marbles, on tho
ground, and In the center marble
hasin, probably the remains OF a
fountain. The north loggia Is reach
er from the perlstyle through the
center arch by means of four stone
steps. or by two steps from the side
loKEias. and Il will he observed that
suspended directly In the middle Ia
n marble or plaster medallion flank
al by two masks. Beyond this are
rooms having remnants of mosaic
noors aud wall paintings In fair
state of preservation,
The golden ouplds, from which the
house takes It's name, are In a room
0n the right or east side OF the perl
style and are the most carefully
guarded treasures of the New
House" The chamber had evident
~ been used as sleeping apart
ment possibly for ohlldren--and on
three sides of Il are indentions OF
perhaps an inch IN the plaster, for
or nye inches In diameter, resem-
bling ships portfolio, and are COW