Roman Mosaics | Page 3

Maxima--Work of Excavation--Ærarium--Capitol--Temple of
Concord--Temple of Jupiter--Arch of Septimius Severus--Milliarium
Aureum--Mamertine Prison--Pillar of Phocas--Suovetaurilia--Curia
Hostilia--Comitium--Curia of Diocletian--Basilica Julia--Vicus
Tuscus--Temple of Castor and Pollux--Atrium Vestæ--Temple of
Vesta--Temple of Antoninus Pius and Faustina--Church of SS. Cosma
e Damiano--Colosseum--Conflagration in Forum

CHAPTER VI
THE EGYPTIAN OBELISKS
Number of Obelisks in Rome--Sun Worship--Symbolism of
Obelisk--Obelisk of Nebuchadnezzar--Original position of
Obelisks--Egyptian Propylons--Changes connected with Obelisks in
Egypt--Transportation of Obelisks to Rome and other places--Obelisk
of Heliopolis--Obelisk of Luxor--Karnac--Lateran Obelisk--Obelisk in
Square of St. Peter's--Obelisk of Piazza del Popolo--Association of
Fountains with Obelisks--Obelisk of Monte Citorio--Esquiline and
Quirinal Obelisks--Obelisk of Trinita dei Monti--Pamphilian
Obelisk--Obelisks near Pantheon--Superiority of Oldest
Obelisks--Obelisk of Paris--Cleopatra's Needles in London and New
York--Religious Devotion of Ancient Egyptians

CHAPTER VII
THE PAINTED TOMB AT VEII
Excursions in neighbourhood of Rome--History of Veii--Uncertainty of
its Site--Journey to Isola Farnese--Village of Isola--Romantic
Scenery--Desolate Downs--Roman Municipium--Old Gateway--Ponte
Sodo--Necropolis of Veii--Painted Tomb--Archaic Frescoes--Objects in
Inner Chamber--Etruscan Tombs imitative of Homes of the
Living--Worship of the Dead--Cellæ Memoriæ--Antiquity of Tomb at
Veii--Mysterious character of Etruscan Language and History

CHAPTER VIII
HOLED STONES AND MARTYR WEIGHTS

Bocca della Verita--Primitive Worship of Clefts in Rocks and Holes in
Stones--Cromlechs--Passing through beneath Cromlechs and
Gates--Tigillum Sororium--Pillars in Aksa Mosque at
Jerusalem--"Threading the Needle" in Ripon Cathedral--Standing
Stones of Stennis and Oath of Odin--Cremave--Jewish
Covenant--Martyr Stones--Originally Roman Measures of
Weight--Made of Jade or Nephrite--Remarkable History of
Jade--Prehistoric Glimpses--Relics of Stone Age in
Rome--Conservation of things connected with Religion

CHAPTER IX
ST. ONOFRIO AND TASSO
Church of St. Onofrio--Monastery--Garden--Tasso's Oak--Grand View
of Rome and Neighbourhood--Tasso's Birthplace at
Sorrento--Remarkable Epoch--Bernardo Tasso--Prince of
Salerno--Youth of Tasso--Visit to Rome--Sojourn at Venice--Student
of Law at Padua--First Poem _Rinaldo_--University of
Bologna--House of Este--Leonora--Composition of _Gerusalemme
Liberata_--Death of Tasso's Father--Visit to France--Aminta and
Pastoral Drama--Publication of _Gerusalemme Liberata_--Della
Cruscan Academy--Ariosto--Cold Treatment of Tasso by
Alfonso--Confinement in Hospital of St. Anne--Story of Hapless
Love--Alleged Madness--Hospital of St.
Anne--_Torrismondo_--Release of Tasso--Pilgrimage to
Loretto--Residence at Naples--Connection with Milton--_Gerusalemme
Conquistata_--Universal Recognition of Poet--Better Days--Closing
Scenes of Life at St. Onofrio--Proposed Coronation at Capitol--Too
Late--Death--Estimate of Life and Work

CHAPTER X

THE MARBLES OF ANCIENT ROME
Pleasures of Marble Hunting in Rome and Neighbourhood--Artistic and
Educational Uses of Marble Fragments--Geological Formation of
Rome--Building Materials of Ancient Rome--Marbles of Conquered
Countries introduced into Rome--Christian Churches made up of
Remains of Pagan Temples--Parian Marble--Porine and Pentelic
Marbles--Hymettian Marble--Thasian, Lesbian and Tyrian
Marbles--Marble of Carrara--Apollo Belvedere--Colouring of Ancient
Statues and Buildings--Gibson's Colour-creed--Time's Hues on Dying
Gladiator--Cipollino--Giallo Antico--Africano--Porta Santa--Fior di
Persico--Pavonazzetto--Rosso Antico--Sedia Forata--Faun--Black
Marbles--Lumachella Marbles--Column of
Trajan--Breccias--Alabasters--Verde Antique--Subterranean Church of
San Clemente--Ophite and Opus Alexandrinum--Jaspers--Murrhine
Cups--Lapis Lazuli--Church of Jesuits--Abundance of Marbles in
Ancient Rome

CHAPTER XI
THE VATICAN CODEX
Vatican Library--Origin and History--Monastery of Bobbio--Splendour
and Charm of Library--Contents of two Principal Cabinets--Letters of
Henry VIII. and Anne Boleyn--Vatican Codex--Freshness of
Appearance--Continuity of Writing--Vacant Space at end of St. Mark's
Gospel--A Palimpsest--Origin of Vatican Codex--Sinaitic and
Alexandrine Codices--History of Vatican Codex--Edition of Cardinal
Mai--Edition of Tischendorf--Disappearance of all Previous
Manuscripts--Faults and Deficiencies of Vatican Codex--Vatican
Codex used in Revised Version of New Testament--Formation of
Sacred Canon

CHAPTER XII

ST. PAUL AT PUTEOLI
Landing of St. Paul in Ship Castor and Pollux at Puteoli--Loveliness of
Bay of Naples--Crowded Population and Splendour of
Villas--Dissoluteness of Inhabitants--Worship of Roman Emperors--St.
Paul's Grief and Anxiety--Encouragement from Brethren--Christians in
Tyrian Quarter at Puteoli and at Pompeii--Southern Italy Greek in
Blood and Language--Quay at Puteoli--Temples of Neptune and
Serapis--Changes of Level in Sea and Land--Monte
Nuovo--Destruction of Village of Tripergola--Filling up of Leucrine
Lake--Lake of Avernus--Sibyl's Cave--Lough Dearg and Purgatory of
St. Patrick--Death Quarter among Prehistoric People in the
West--Phlegræan Fields--Scene of Wars of Gods and Giants--Elysian
Fields--Pagan Heaven and Hell--Via Cumana and St.
Paul--Amphitheatre of Nero--Solfatara--Relics of Volcanic Fires and
Ancient Civilisation mixed together--Volcanic Fires and Landscape
Beauty--Completion of Gospel in St. Paul's Journey from Jerusalem to
Rome

CHAPTER I
A WALK TO CHURCH IN ROME
I know nothing more delightful than a walk to a country church on a
fine day at the end of summer. All the lovely promises of spring have
been fulfilled; the woods are clothed with their darkest foliage, and not
another leaflet is to come anywhere. The lingering plumes of the
meadow-sweet in the fields, and the golden trumpets of the wild
honeysuckle in the hedges, make the warm air a luxury to breathe; and
the presence of a few tufts of bluebells by the wayside gives the
landscape the last finishing touch of perfection, which is suggestive of
decay, and has such an indescribable pathos about it. Nature pauses to
admire her own handiwork; she ceases from her labours, and enjoys an
interval of rest. It is the sabbath of the year. At such a time every object
is associated with its spiritual idea, as it is with its natural shadow. The
beauty of nature suggests thoughts of the beauty of holiness; and