TWO-STORY POMPEII

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 34, 9 August 1921, Page 3

TWO-STORY POMPEII

EXCAVATIONS OF MAIN THOROUGHFARES

A NEW CONCEPTION OF BURIED CITY, Recent excavations at Pompeii give a very different idea of , the ancient city and its life, according to Edward Robinson, Director of the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, who recently returned from a visit there. Those who have seen the previous excavations have a recollection .of onssfcory buildings, with straight, plain walk in the fronts. The new excavations, with the work more scientifically done, show that Pompeii wa«_ a town of two-story buildings, with little balconies at the front above picturesque awning-like projections over the atpne fronts, where large doors opened on to the street. In the gardens a' the rear of the houses roots of what must havo been food-sizo-d trees have been found, the first evidence that the ancient city was-provided with trees. The house fronts have been restored; doors and blinds to the stores have been put m pla.ee, and in the little gardens m the courts of the houses flower gardens nave been set out on their original lines. Tho new excavations, which are along the important Strada dell' Abbondanza, had not been, opened to the pubheat the time Mr. Robinson visited Pompeii. One reason for the delay was the difficulty of obtaining a sufficient number of men to act as guards to safeguard the new discoveries. The frescoes on tho walls, the contents of the houses, and even some of tha excavated bodies have been left where they were found instead or being taken to museums as was tho practice in the work of excavation done previously, as the Italian authorities nave as vet made no announcement ot the discoveries. Mr. Robinson, would not discuss the nature of new frescoes, except to say that they are to remain on the buildings'where they were originally placed. - ... Previous excavations in Pompeii, not half, of which has yet been were in the western part of the town. In this part was the Forum, which was the centre of the life-of the city. The Strada dell' Abbondanza ran from tho Forum to the extreme south-eastern corner of the town where ,the ampithear<"Thw" excavation is in the roost interesting part of the ruins," says Mr. Robinson! "The work was begun in 1911, and, until quite recently, the newly-ex-cavated- district had; not been open to the public It was to have been opened) this spring- The work is being conducted by the director of the museum in Naples, Professor Vittorio Spinazzola, and whereas the earlier excavating was done m a move ot leas haphazard manner, he has brought to the work the most modern processes in excavation, and observation of results, and haa sifted eVery particle of i evidence as the work progressed, so that no data, should be lost. In that way he has succeeded in .recovering much of the original appearance of the old houses, which was lost in the earlier excavations. "Many years ago the process of pour ing plaster in ihe space occupied by a dead body, and thus obtaining_ a cast, was employed by Professor Spinazzola. Ho has used the same methods with carbonised, wood, and in that way baa been able, to restore the shape of much of the woodwork of the ■ houses. The result is that where the parts of the town uncovered in the ■ earlier excavations are in the condition of the devastated towns in France, only 'brick and stone walls standing in ruined condition, with tho newer methods, the'models of the framework, doors,. and shutters of tho houses have been reproduced, and the result is a much more life-like appearance of, what the town must have been before it was destroyed.'■'

"From two-thirds to three-fourths of the Strada dell' Abbondanza, has been excavated, and Professor Spinazzola, expects to continue until the whole street is uncovered. Professor Spinazzola lias proved' that the houses were two-story structures, while it was previously supposed, that Pompeii was a one-story town, and that the occasional two-story buildings shown in the old excavations were exceptions. He has also shown tliat there were little* balconies overhanging the itreei, little loggias opening on to the streets, .--as seen in many Italian towns of to-day. Most of th« houses _ had , shops, with awning-like projections. ,

■■' "Street doors have been restored with the original bronze bolts and locks. He does not replace, the wood, but the doorsare put up in the plastef casts exactly as they were in the wood.

"The new discoveries show that the shops were usually closed on the street fronts by large wooden shutters made of slats which opened and closed like modern blinds. When the shutters were closed they were ■ fastened on the inside with a long bar. In most of the buildings only tho front part has been excavated—the shops' and the entrance leading into the residences.. In many of the shops they found tho things that had been on sale. The aim has been to restore the shops' as they were before the eruption. There is one interesting little wine shop with a counter facing the street. In this has been preserved a great bronze kettle to heat water to serve.with the beverages and the fireplace where it was used. In this shop were numerous drinking cups hanging on the wall. There are shops where various household utensils were sold. In one there were bronze vases of beautiful design. They will all remain where they were discovered.

"Along the streets are little altars' built against the houses with ,the image of some divinity painted on the wall above. On some of these altars are offerings made to the deity. They have been preserved under glass cases. The fronts, of many of the houses were elaborately decorated with frescoes. These too will remain where they are instead of being removed to the museum at Naples, as formerly. The character of tlie houses varies somewhat, but among those so far uncovered the largest and finest have the interior decorated with wall paintings.

"In tho interior of many of the houses Professor Spinazzola has discovered, in addition to the central .court with the peristyle, a little garden. Some of these are hardly larger^ than the top of a good-sized table. ' From the flower designs in the frescoes on the walls he has learned the varieties of the flowers the inhabitants, of .Pompeii knew, and has, replanted the. gardens with the flowers that decorated the beds nearly 2000 years ago. .The resurrected Pompeii before was. dead. Professor Spinazzola is making it a living tiring."