The sun., 1908-03-22
CESAR'S TOMB A MUSIC HALL
POPULAR CONCERTS IN TIE MA6-
SOLEUM OF AUGUSTUS.
V,ri,dtudes Of me Great otFuctuFs .ths
Founder OF the Roman Empirs RReOtea
to Receive the Remains ~ Hinl9sif
and His Family Nineteen OsntaFies A8s,


Founder OF the Roman Empro EReOted
to Receive the Remains u Hiulssif
and His Family Nineteen OsntaTies Ags,
Roue. March iO.-The AmphIGheatre
oorea after being olosod for twthty y64rS
has lust been opened for the Sunday popu-
lar concerts, to which the music lovers Of
Rome fock 10 hear classic muGlo This
amphltheatre IL one Of tho oldest FelIca
NJ ancient Rome and was the tomb Of Lu-
gustls.
Nineteen centuries ago the Emperor
Cesar Augustus gave ordera for tho Sroo-
uon of a mAusoleum for himself and hls
family between the Via Flaniinia and the
Campus Martius, close 10 the banks of TIE
river 1t was his wish that the tomb should
rival that erected 10 King Mausolus, which
vas considered one Of the wonders Of the
world Little did he think that 4 future
generation would profane his tomb and
Use it as a concert hall.
r was built in 27 B, c., forty-one years
Aa:,re Augustus's death, and consisted
Of a circular basement Of white marble
about two hundred and ninety feet Ia
diameter, which sur ted a cone Of earth
planted with cyp and evergreens.
There we're three otiring stages, each
pierced with numerous chambers destined
10 receive the remains Of every member
oi the imperial family and thousands Of
slaves aud freedmen
In the centre Of this mound the great
founder Of the empire was buried, while
his bronze statue lowered above the trees.
The vaults we're approached from the
south, while the entrance on either aida
was Aanked by huge monuments. prn-
cipally the obelisks which now stand In the
squares Of the Quirinal and ESquitne.
On the walls ct % ther side wore copies In
marble or bronze Of the Gscrees Of the
Senate in honor Of the personAses buried
within
The gates Of the nausoleum we're opened
for the first time to receive the Asheb Of
Young MarcellIs nephew Of Augustus and
first husband Of his daughter Julia, whose
Ieath was lsmen;ed by vergl Aiew years
later Octavia, sister Of the Emperor and
widow OF Mark Antony, was honored by
public funeral at which an orstion was
delivered by Augustus himself.
In IA, y. the Emperor died a. Nola and
his body was burned here on q funeral pile
80 huge that his widow Livia, dishevelled
md ungirt, with bare feet, surrounded by
the Roman Senators, had TO watch 1t for
five days and five nights before II cooled
sufficiently to allow the collection Of the
ashes Of the Emperor. Just as tho first
spark ignited the pyre an eagle was seen
rising from its summit, and from this event
it was believed that the spirit Of Augustus,
entering into tho body Of the eagle, had
assembled to heaven.
In the years that followed many members
n the imperial family we're sntombed here
his widow. who lived for fifteen years
after his death; Caligula, who was murdered
in Il and was first buried in the Hort La
miami; Claudius, who was murdered BY
Agrippina; his son Britanricus, murdered
ty Nero, and finally Nerva. From this
time until iiO nothing more is heard Of the
mausoleum. ... .,
1t was ransacSed by the Goths. but for
tunately no harm was done 70 the building.
Later during the troublesome times when
the Colonna fought for supremacy with the
Orsini, the former used the tomb as for.
tress, and it was nearly destroyed by the
furious population in 1877 when news OF
the defeat Of a Roman army led by the
Colonnas against the Count Of Tusculum and
his German allies reached the city.
The people stormed the stronghold Of the
powerful family and wrought havoc. but the
rlin was restored in i2r by the Colounas,
and here it was that the body Of the Tribune