CHAPTER XVII.

ROME, ITS ENVIRONS.

ROME is the most celebrated of European cities, famous in both ancient and modern history. It was once the capital of the most powerful nation of antiquity, and later the ecclesiastical capital of Christendom, and the place of residence of the Pope; since 1871 it has become the capital of United Italy and the city where the king holds his court.

Rome is situated on both banks of the Tiber, 16 miles from its mouth, and has a population of 250,000. It once boasted 4,000,000 inhabitants, and its area encompassed seven hills, several of which are now marked but by ruins and decay.

The origin of the city is involved in mystery, but the generally conceived idea is that it was founded 753 years B. C. by Romulus and Remus who, as the legend runs, were found on the banks of the river by a she-wolf, which had come to drink of the stream, carried them into her den hard by and suckled them.

The Palatine Hill was first settled by a Greek colony under Evander 2,000 years B. C. and was afterwards the site of the city founded by Romu

lus, who inclosed it with a square wall, which gave it the name of Roma quadrata. Just outside of this wall was the sacred boundary over which Remus leaped in token of his contempt, and thereby incurring his brother's resentment was slain by him.

At the beginning of the Empire Augustus built the first palace on the Palatine, to which were subsequently added those of Tiberius, Caligula, Domitian, and Septimus Severus, and consolidated into one is called the Palace of the Cæsars. Among the ruins of this palace is the temple of Jupiter Stator where the Lares and Penates, or household gods, were enshrined; where Nero condemned St. Paul to death, and where Cicero delivered his first scathing denunciation against Catiline; and in the palace of Domitian is an amphitheatre where foot-races and other sports took place. Near by is the Circus Maximus, the scene of the rape of the Sabines by the Romans.

The Capitoline Hill was the citadel of ancient Rome. It was betrayed by Tarpeia, the daughter of the warden of the gates, to the Sabines, who entered the city, and after a time reigned jointly with the Romans. It was in this citadel that were kept the sacred geese whose cackling, on the approach of the Gauls, aroused the garrison and thus saved Rome; and it was from the Tarpeian Rock that the Roman commander Marcus Man

lius on this occasion, hurled the enemy headlong down the precipice.

The Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus adjoins the Senate-chamber upon the steps of which Rienzi— the last of the Tribunes - fell beneath the daggers of the populace while attempting his escape.

The Capitoline Museum, in front of which there is a fine equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, and also of the twin heroes of the mythological era, Castor and Pollux, contains the following celebrated statuary: The Dying Gladiator, the Faun of Praxiteles, the Venus of the Capitol, Romulus and Remus nursed by the wolf, heroic figures of Julius and Augustus Cæsar, busts of other Roman Emperors, besides a beautiful ancient mosaic of Pliny's Doves.

The Roman Forum, which occupies the low land between the Palatine and Capitoline hills, was formerly the market-place and general place of assembly; here was the scene of important social, religious, and political events, and here were grouped the finest buildings of ancient Rome. The Forum is crossed by the Via Sacra, or Sacred Way, over which the household gods were carried from the Palatine to the Temple of Jupiter on the Capitoline, and where returning victors marched in triumphal procession. Its ruins comprise the temples of the Sun, of Saturn, Concord, Janus, Castor and Pollux, Faustina, and Vespasian; the Colonnade of the Twelve Gods,

the column of Phocus, the Basilicas Julia and Constantine, the house of Julius Cæsar, the Tabularium or House of Records,-and the arches of Septimus Severus, Constantine, and Titus.

The Arch of Titus has on one side a bas-relief of this Emperor returning in triumphal procession from Jerusalem, while on the other is a representation of the seven-branched candlestick, and through this arch it is said Josephus marched, a prisoner, with other captives.

The Forum was the scene of the death of Virginia, and the ruins of the shop where Virginius snatched the knife to save his daughter's honor, is still extant. Here is the rostrum where Mark Antony made his oration over the dead body of Julius Cæsar, the spot where it was burnt and the ashes buried; also the rostrum from which Cicero discoursed, and where, after his death, his head and hands were exposed to public gaze.

In the centre of the Forum once stood a column on which was enscribed the distance from Rome, of every important city in the world; hence the expression used: "that all roads lead to Rome."

In close proximity to the Forum is the Mamertine Prison-an underground donjon where Saint Peter and Saint Paul were confined, and in it is a spring of water which is said, gushed forth to enable Saint Peter to baptize his converted jailers.

The Colosseum, a vast amphitheatre was

commenced by Vespasian and finished by Titus, A. D. 80. It is 157 feet high, 1,900 in circumference, and was built by 60,000 captive Jews, who were engaged ten years in its construction. It once seated 87,000 spectators, the seats rising in tiers one above another; the Emperor's box occupied a prominent position, and on either side of it sat the Senators and the Vestal Virgins. Beneath are subterranean passages and chambers where both men and beasts were confined, and whence they were brought into the arena by means of elevators. After the close of the gladiatorial sports, water was let in by means of aqueducts, and galleys introduced for the purpose of representations of naval engagements. At the inauguration of the Colosseum, the festivities of which lasted 100 days, 5,000 wild beasts and 10,000 captives were slain and many Christian martyrs perished.

The Golden House of Nero, so called from its magnificence and splendor, and which was inlaid with gold and mother-of-pearl, still shows on its walls the remains of exquisite frescoes, a design from which was adopted by Napoleon for the standard of his army. In the portico stood a colossal bronze statue of Nero 120 feet in height, the mutilated remains of which are now to be seen in the capitol. It is said to have been for the purpose of enlarging the grounds around his palace that Nero caused a portion of Rome to be