The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-05-25


TutaEkhamcn's tomb and tho theory.
confirmed now By countless discov-
cries. that the royal tornbs OF tho Pre-
Christian and early Christian oraa
are apt TO hold all the personal 81.
fecis OF tho deceased. or. a. least.
those effects which were inherent TO
his rank. have revived tho debate
whether or not tho subsoil OF Rome
has been thoroiy explored.
Many believe a systematic search
would lead up 10 the discovery OF
many sarcophaguS whose contents
would easily eclipse. a'om the point
Of view Of their intrinsic and artistic
value, those found even In tho rich.
es, Of Egyptian tomhs.
Local archaeologists believe that.
aside from certain historical spots.
the local underground has never
been explored, and that what has
been found. was due more 10 acci.
dent than TO the expressed purpose
OF tho explorer.
Professor Ermanno Ponti says
that while II would be useless 20
search for the ,ombs OF tho Roman
patricians and pagan empcrors. as
their bodies were invariably burned.
yet Rome has NJ least one uncx.
plored metropolis. located nearby
81. Peters. which was the mauso.
leum OF all the Christian cmperors
and Expresses OF Rome. who sue.
ceeded Constantine. including Theo.
dosius the Great, Thcodosius IL. En-.
press Gala Placlda Augusta, Hon.
orius and probably valcn,inian III.
Side by side 10 them were buried
their wives.
There Is no record showing that
these tonbs wcrc ever opened. The
mausoleum was torn down 10 make
room for a wing OF tho present
church. but the tombs were left un.
molcsted.
TREASURES
In TOMB
To give an idea OF what may be
found in them. Prof. Ponti quotes n
chronicler Of the year 1853. concern.
ing the opening OF a marble sar.
cophagus containing two unidentified
bodies brought TO light while dig.
ging a grave for a dead prclate.
Inside the marble sarcophagus there
was wooden coffin lined with sill.
yer. which when melted net,ed
about 80: pounds Of silver. The
bodies were wrapped in gold
blanket. which the pope also sent
to the mint. II yielded about 30
American pounds OF gold.
But a list OF what was found in
the tomb Of Empress Mary Honor.
ius wife. and daughter OF the
Roman general silicon. will give a
definite idea OF what the tombs
of the Christian emperers OF Rome
would yield. Tire tomb came &C.
cidentally to light In 1914. and when
the sarcophagus of rel Egyptian
granite was opened, the prelatcs and
the officials OF the pontifcial court,
as chronicler. says. stood amazed
at the sight It offered. hardly be.
lieving their own eyes.
BLANKETS
OF GOLD
The body Of the empress was clad
In gold gown. while gold einbroId.
cred blankets covered Len face and
breast. Side by side 10 the body
there lay a silver box containing
30 small stones, and four OF gold.
Beside, there were two cups and
an oil lamp or gold. a second box
lined with gilded silver contained.
according TO the chronicIer. 10 rings.
a number OF earrings. small crosses,
collIcrs, buttons. needles and q small
gold ball which opened like nut.
Every article was OF gold and OF
the most exquisite workmanship.
studded with cmernlds. pearls and
other precious stones. Among the
stones there was carved ono, which
bore the Ilkenens Of Honorius and
which was sold FOR 900 gold ducats.
TREASURE
DISPERSED
But at that time Their. was little
or no respect for what was found