A ROMAN PALACE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1263, 19 October 1911, Page 5

A ROMAN PALACE.

EMPEROR'S DINING HALL DISCOVERED. By Telecraph—Frcss <i«nria(ion—Copyright Rome, Oclobor 17. Whilo investigating tho ruins of t'lie Domus Flavia, on tho Palatine ITill, Commendators lßoni discovered, almost intact, tho pavement of the Emperor Domitian's dining hall, covering an area of a thousand square metres, about a quarter of an acre. Tho pavement is composed of Oriental granite, with a border of Numidian marble and other African stones. There is a remarkable arrangement of pillars, raising it so as to permit of seating room accommodation beneath. Tho Emperor l-Mniitian was 1 born at' Rome in 51 a.d., and died in !)G, after have reigned for fifteen years. lie built a magnificent suite of state apartments on the Palatine,over a deep valley running right across the hill. This palace was an extension and restoration of an earlier palace built by Augustus, and is known both as the Domus Augustiana and the Domus Flavia. Tho grand triclinium, or dining hall, of tho palace had a magnificent paving of opus seetile in red mid green basalt and coloured marbles, a portion of which is still wellpreserved. The cable message must refer to tho Emperor's privato dining hall. The private rooms of the palace have been believed to lie buried under tho Villa Mill?, an adjoining building dating back to the lfith century, and until 1906 used as a nunnery.