Omaha daily bee., 1912-05-19

A MoNG the amazing mass Of
"A new discoveries in ancient
= = Pompeii is that Of q banker
who may be fittingly described as
the Pierpont Morgan Of the Summer
capital Of Roman luxury. .-
He occupied the most beautiful
palace on the newly excavated, ex-
elusive portion Of the Street Of Album
dance, which has already been re-
ferred to as bearing a resemblance
to the most luxurious part Of New
York's Fifth Avenue. This discov.
cry adds, in q highly picturesque
manner. to the resemulances be-
tween Pompeii and New York pre-
viously noted.
The Pompsiian bankers name Is
believed to have been Lucius Cecllius
Metellus, although there is still some
doubt about the spelling of the name,
on account OF the blurs and mutila-
lions occurring wherever II has been
found written.
A fine bust Of Metellus was found
In the great atrium Of his beautiful
house. Strange to sag. he had q
large, pendulous nose, with Q wart on
1t. Otherwise his face indicated
great Intelligence. overbearing de-
termination and . keen power to
enjoy all the good things of the
flesh. Indeed, the furnishings Of his
house indicate that there were few
forms of enjoyment with which he
was not thoroughly familiar.
II appears that ct the age Of ifty-
nine Metellus retired from the act.
i've pursuit Of inonsy.making In or
der to devote himself. like Mr.. Nor
gan. to collecting precious objects Of
art from all parts OF the world. The
Roman and Pompeiian spendthrifts.
however, insisted on continuing to
borrow money from him At upwards
of eighty per cent. on the best Of
security, such as solid gold vases.
Thus IL happened that his income
continued to roll up without any
effort on his part and he was able
TO devote unlimited wealth to buying
art treasures, without troubling
about their cost.
Surrounding the columned court
yard. or peristylium. Of his house.
which must have been beautiful with
birds, flowers. fountains and statu-
airy. there stood a series Of build.
ings housing the millionaire's art
treasures.
There was the library, stocked
with manuscripts from Greece and
Egypt. and with the more recent
PRODUCTIONS Of the poets Of Italy.
Many Of these manuscripts have
been recovered BY the excavators
and constitute the most valuable Of
the latest series Of finds.
Then there was . hall set apart
for the masterpieces of Greek sculp-
ture. Another building was entirely
nlled with arms and armor, sun
another was given up to dainty ere
atoms In gold and precious stones
crowns, tiarss, necklaces, sirdies,
brooches, buckles and thousands OF
beautiful pieces Of iewelry used BY
men and women &C ornaments In
ancient times.
Egyptian papyri and palimpsests,
amphorss and crateras OF Etrus-
can. Trojan and Mycenaean work
manship; Greek drinking cups OIL
gold, called scyphi and canthari;
Tanagra ngurines Of all periods;
curious statuettes from Chaicedon;
rare examples Of sculpture and jew
elry In the Phoenician. cypriots and
Graecco-Egyptian styles: polyehro-
matte marble statues of Hercules
Venus. Baechus. siienus and all the
Pagan Pantheon. enriched this Won
aerful collection.
The accompanying Photographs
shov a few Of the treasures recov-
cred from the halls Of Metsllus.
These objects represent widely sep
arased periods Of Greek art Here
Ia q somewhat archaic fresco repre-
seutinx the Greek hero Theseus kill
ing the tabled Minotxur In the Gre
tan labyrinth. and here is q eas re.
iief teprsssnting 3 Bacchanaiian
procession that ID In the most
ADVANCED style Of Greek art This
u worthy Of Phidias.
An excuiEiseiy embossed helmet
with decorations Of inlaid gold Is
another example Of the finest Greek
style, and wac probably produced