BATHS OF DIOCLETIAN. 1—«

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 140, 7 March 1908, Page 10

BATHS OF DIOCLETIAN. 1—«

PROJECT FOR THEIR RESTORATION., , ' 1 Rome, January 15. ~ -, ' Among , tho. many , archaeological' projects for the, celebration ..of .the.. Festival. of. Roiiio in tho year-1911, bne 'of jtho, most' desirablo -is: : that'.; of .isolation ..of this 1 B'atlis' Diocletian,..' tlio-.. largest. -.audi most ; , ; pomplcjo.,remains-. of.aubieiit, ~Roji}an ' in tho'year 305, covered a squaro mile, 'anil, was capable of, accommodating 300,0 bathers.. The Sudatorium arid wore, converted' by'.Mjcliiiel ■Aiigelo -'int'o' thochurch of. Saiit'a Maria ,dcgli: A'ugeli,. aiid, ow;'frig, to, the use .to'which..it;, was .'assigned,■ •■the',;.Tepidarium,; which ..forms the.: body 'of ithei.phurclj;.; remains, ,thb, mostsplendid .Jh'all: that- has 'cpmo -ddwiv to .us from ancient time's.. It; measures '336, ft. ' in' length,' by £ 90ft.y ''and; ,'js B.4ft: ; iri; height; wliilp the'vault' still '■ hoars'- : .the- 1 great- bronze' rosettes : ,frora :which -lamp's.j •once hung. y ; King. Victor Emmanuel is said to have .offered the siimo: of £8000' towar.ds 'the' restbra--tioii' of .'the/facade; of this: building, ;in'' which his 'marriage took 'place 1 iii 1896' to triiicess Elena 'of Mo'nterieg'rbi v Thb .'sito of tlib" ( baths also-includes the' b'eautiful National Museum, jwitli'v'it's 'V'-V'cloisMrs A'designed - '"by .'Michael |Angelb;i ill- ivhieh' are' stoted' all; tho. 'ar'Qhaeo.logical treasures : by'"' bnilding'operations in'-tho ''oity.iof 'Rome' during-'' tho ■ jlast 'oO.yearsj 'and 'also'tlie famous'-' LudoVici collection-' of-' marblbs.The ; rest of the. site' ;has'---been' -. coliverted : into institutions 'and' ,'houses—one,''of.'• tho ' latter being >'the- studio o'f the ?• sculptor, - Ezekiel—whoso musical receptions, "given' iii these ' ,unique-vand'i;;pic- . tiiresqub'-'surroundings,' are a'"' feature»of. Roman society. • 'The Piazza dello Terme; opposite the church,, has retained '.the, form of. .the; Exedra,;of "the-ancient ibathsj; and,if, as is .reported, • tho Government and, the municipality have already opened .negotiations with the proprietors of. the.ruins, the-Roman Centenary may be. the - occasion! of saving for posterity a maguificent monument ■ of > ancient, Rome, •which! -from.,its position ;immediately .adjacent to the station, would, give a most char- ' acteristic and picturesquo impression to those 'arriving in the Eternal City.. ' ,~,