POMPEII.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 141, 13 June 1912, Page 8

POMPEII.

TBE STREET OF ABTJTfBAJ.CE. _rt_T__R __a_l_-.TIO.rs OF. DECADENT SOCTEZI_. The newest excavations at Pompeii hare proved that that ancient bloodstained pleasnre-mad city, overwhelmed nineteen <_._ndred years ago by divine fire in the midst of its crimes, possessed a millionaire row as luxurious, as money-scattering, as ostentations as New York's principal 6treet of fashion, but infinitely more sensual and brutal. This fashion, centre of Pompeii was like Millionaires' Row of Upper Fifth-avenue, combined with the wildest part of the Great Ynhite Way, and then with many features added that can hardly be described and coald only have existed in that strange ancient world that has passed forever. There were the palaces facing on a thoroupghfare reserved for patricians and behind them the dens devoted to secret orgies. .There were the schools of the patrician children, and there within a stone's throw of them were the drinking saloons where wealthy Pompeians could meet with dancing girls and actresses.' There was the home of the patrician with all its high art and refinement and love of letters, and opposite it was the arena .ot the gladiator, _-liere the master of the house could revel in blood and every form of wickedness. The Pompeian Fifth-avenue was called the Street of Abundance, a street already identified, but not thoroughly appreciated hecause it was not fully excavated. It was only the other day that Cavaliere Boni, the great Italian archaeologist and official director of the excavations, discovered, that the Street of -Abundance was shut off -by closely placed •tall stone pillars, so that chariots and other wheeled vehicles could not pass through it. It was a corso such as Naples possesses to-day. There was ample access to the palaces from the rear. In this corso sanniered the Tompeian dandies as tbey ogled the Pompeian ladies of the period who passed before them in their slave-borne litters. A RICH- DRINKING SALOON. In the Street of Abundance Cavaliere Boni found a fashionable Pompeian drinking saloon, preserved with hitherto unequalled ■perfection, for the ashes had covered it over and hermetically sealed it. There was a row of great wine jars and there was the ■vintner, who bad perished -while he was pouring wine into them in the fatal year 70 A.D. There were the men and women patrons of the saloon lying on couches in exquisitely painted recesses. Portions of their richly embroidered togas and peplums were still preserved. Drink had made these people in different to the doom that threatened them. •The fittings were superb. The jars were made of bronze and glass, a materia] then novel and rare. The cups were of gold. The .till was filled with a rich harvest of golden _urel, silver sesterces aud little Ivory coins. Ihis place was called "thermopolium." At another spot in the street Cavaliere Boni identified the Palace of Obellius Fir mns, one of the richest citizens of Pompeii. as proved by his dwelling. Before one of the gates lay six bodies. They were the bodies of ObeHins Firmns himself, his wife, cwo children, and two of his slaves. The children were lying in one another's arms as if sleeping; and the parents had'huddled close together in a last pitiful embrace. Oihey had been overwhelmed by the eruption as they were running away. So vivid was this picture of "the moment of Pompeii's destruction that the authorities decided to leave the bodies as th«y were lying instead of removing them to the' museum. A MIXED STREET. The Street of Abundance was lined with shops and booths having -how windows," and 'fitted with -marble counters upon which were displayed only such articles as entered into the luxuries and elegancies of life— toilet articles, perfumes, scented unguents, choice fabrics, jewels and art objects, sweetmeats, and there were "beauty parlors" adjoining Roman baths luxuriously appointed* for the use of .Che Pompeian Smart Set. In one of these "beauty parlors" was found a recipe intentled for a Roman lady, j Julia Jluvia Curva, prescribing a mixture of oil of almonds and spikenard to repair the ravages of time and dissipation to her , neck, and a rouge made of colchicum and peacock fat to add a lovely glow to her Cheek. Notices, wits, bits of news, gossip, and • choice morsels of scandal, were contained in the "Acta Dinrna," or "Daily Doings," the daily newspaper of Pompeii. From references scratched and painted on walls it is •learned that the "Acta Dinrna," inscribed on -sheets l of papyrus, was posted in the Basilica, the chief business resort of the city; but copies were made by slave scribes to be circulated for the delectation of indolent Pompeian beauties upon awakening late ia the day after a night of feasting, daxi__Bg." __-io.e-_a_hg. _ DAI_ST PAPER. __iUsCriptip have hitherto been,rare In Pompeii, though.many have been found in the neighbouring city of Herculaneum, but at last" a mass of them have been unearthed in the former city. Among them is a copy of the papyrus "Acta Diurna." One item deciphered from this begins thus:—"Marcus TuTlins Servos gave a magnificent spectacle last night to the members of the Roman aristocracy now staying In i__fi_i?. -The-- _re as-Maximus -was-hired for the occasion. Marcus Tullius appeared in a magnificent .quadriga (fonr-: horsed chariot), followed by his friends and clients in" other chariots. - Naked bacchantes ■with garlands on Oieir heads and in their hands Waited upon the guests. There followed mortal combats between a hundred gladiators, tbe burning of a hundred'dancing girls, who had'previously been steeped in wine, and the feeding of one hundred choice slaves to lions and other wild beasts newly imported from Africa. All the guests joined wildly in'the revelry, and the-superb entertainment had- not been con-cluded-when the scribe left-to write this account of it," _he whole story of the luxurious., reck-less,-conscienceless, daily life of the ancient city was found inscribed on the walls. Remarks, and slanders. were, scratched and carved on..solid .masonry . in. plain . Latin" text. Social scenes were pictured in' imperishable encaustic paintings on the walls of rooms in most of the honses and vil.'as. The statues of Greek and Egyptian deities, the implements, instruments, and domestic utensils, and the interior, arrangement of the hou.es —all these are witnesses that lay barer and plainer to our eyes the actual life of the Pompeians than that of any other ancient city. Scratched upon the wall of a palace kitchen in the Street of Abundance were | the words:— "Mucins Lolius, our master, was carried home last night, dead drnnk, without his .poise or his toga, and placed noiselessly in the kitchen." Cren the jokea are preserved, for In a barb— shop was written plainly. "Barber—How shall I remove your hair? f.Customer —In silence." aSrtSentlj; this was a bright idea of the nagt-i . harder. «to _ae_- discretion- to his yimnt assistants.- -'■-'■-

•LITING FOR THE DAT. The unspeakably brutal and demoralising practice of gladiatorial combats dominated the life of Pompeii to aa appalling degree. Contests were held daily in three great circuses, at which upward of 100/JOO people were present. A -great school, where 4000 gladiators were kept in training, was maintained. Hundreds of gladiators were slain or maimed daHy. Millionaire residents of the Street of Abundance gave private gladiatorial contests in the gardens and ballrooms of their horses. While men and women rested in the triclinium Ithe reclining room), after the luxurious daily public bath, they watched deadly gladiatorial contests. We even learn the'names of prominent gladiators. For instance, on the wall of a gladiator's room is written:—•'Stras suspir_»m puellarum," meaning "Strax, for whom the girls sigh." He was probably a fierce barbarian from some distant country. Though these deadly contests aroused most interest, the ordinary theatre was not neglected. An inscription written by an irritate(l plebeian on the gallery wall tells us: "Ladies go to the play to be heard rather than to hear." - Cock fights and dog fights were exceedingly popular. Apparently the ancient Pompeians were proud of what we should call depravity. Games with dice and other games of chance are depicted thousands of times on the walls. Eveu-young girls play them! We find inscriptions recording the existence of powerful unions, known as 'The Circle of lJate Drmfcers," "The Society of the Indefatigable Worshippers of Venus." and "The Devotees of Games of Chance." The drinking cups. were often engraved with skeletons and fleshless heads for a reminder to revellers of both sexes reclining at the banquet table to make the most of the present moment. A huge drinJJng bowl was, inscribed: . "Ay. this is life, and 'tis nanght but pleasure. Throw aside all care! The life of man is so short! Bring wine at once, and dancers and crowns of flowers, and women! Let us enjoy to-day, for who can count on the morrow?"