Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-10-17
BATHS OF CARACALLA.
Their MnEnihcence Revealed by Re-
cent Excavations in Rome.

(Rome Cor. Of the London Standard)
During the work of acquiring and iso-
lating the extensive tract of land, to be
called the Archaeological Promenade"
which will enclose a considerable proper
ton of the antiquities of Rome in one
huge park, excavations have been carried
on under the superintendent of Senator
Lanciani in the magnificent baths of
Caracalla, one Of the largest and most
impressive masses OF ruin to be found in
the eternal city. and the results are prov
ing Of unhoped-for interest and value.
1t was we'll said In olden times that the
Roman baths were like provinces. and
although the baths of Caracala were not
as immense as those of Diocletian their
luxury and magnificence were uneQualled.
AS is proved by the splendor and perfec-
ton Of the vast halls which are still to
be seen above ground and by the long
list Of world amed statues and mosaics
taken from this site. such as those now In
the Farnese collection of Naples. and
many others which have survived the
fury of the iconoclast and the fatal lime
kiln, while the present Investigations
have brought back to our knowledge
subterranean city consisting Of over 1000
yards of vast galleries which were used
by the slaves and attendants. and for
marvellous hydraulic. heating and VENT
lation systems In connection with the
great bathing esta blishment above.
The ground beneath Is honeycombed
with splendid drains for carrying Off the
water which the low level of the neigh
borhood has gathered there in immense
quantities, and these fine works Of an
Gent Rome could easily be put into prac-
teal order once again but that the diner
ence In the level of the Tiber, which Is
row almost q feet higher than 1t was in
imperial times, makes 1t impossible to
have even the small slope necessary to
carry the pipes into the river.
During the last two months work among
the agglomeration Of stone and marble
fragments which were choking up the
canals for carrying off the water two
splendid archaic heads have been found.
both in excellent condition. 'one represent
| ing Apollo and the other Bacchus Alca-
menes. a fine torso of an athlete Of al
| most life.size charming little satyr and
| the half of a head in Greek marble which
Is supposed to represent member or the
| nntonine family. The most important
discovery, however. from an artistic point
Of view. is that which was made in a
| little room beneath the surface with
rough mosaic floor on which were found
heaped together the fragments, more
| than life size, of IA beautiful statue OF
Venus Anadyomene with arms appraised
The head only and some small unimport-
ant fragments are wanting. but Profess
sor Vale believes that II represents UNI
doubtedly Greek masterpiece, and one
of the most important artistic finds of
later years
The room in which this treasure was
unearthed proved to be part of the
largest and most complete Mithraun
ever discovered. In gallery leading to
the main hall Is a fountain and inches FOR
sacrificial Illustrations, and. in addition 10
several rooms for various uses, such as
keeping the animals required for sacrifice
Is "A splendid Mithrac sanctuary, about
% yards long and 10 l-2 yards wide. di-
vided by three pilasters. which distinctly
indicate the divisions for the different
grades OF the mysterious Oriental rite
which this and other discoveries lately
made have proved to have taken such
hold on the Romans of the empire
Fragments of ritual sculpture. an altar
in the form OF a mass OF rocks, with q
serpent winding its way through the
stones. a base for has-relef. on tht
two sides of which are most interesting
Greek inscriptions to the god, and many
reculiarities of the construction OF the
! building illustrate with fulncss and detail
this incomprehensible symbolic cult.
, In the precincts of the baths above
near the Stadium. an ancient library has
been uncovered. for completeness anc
size comparable only to those OF Per
, eamos and Timgad In Africa, showinl
riches for statues, platform Tor read
ers, and galleries to enable attendants u
Rave access to the books.
In addition to all this, the carrying
away of 100000 cubic metres of earth
thus restoring the original level of thu
laths and bringing to light magnihcen
and we'll preserved pavements. has adde'
immensely to the height and grandeur o
I the ruins, which now stand about 90 fee
, above the ground their great masses o
2 rich coloring against the blue italian SIX!
g making an effect which 1t world he difn
: cult to match elsewhere.
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