STREET OF ABUNDANCE.

Mataura Ensign, 13 May 1912, Page 4

STREET OF ABUNDANCE.

LIFE IN POMPEII. The new excavations in Pompeii have now brought to light about eight houses of the Street of Abundance leading towards the amphitheatre (wrote the Naples correspondent of the Daily Mail' on April 1). The first house to the left is lofty and forms the angle of the newly-excavated snoot, with a narrower v.iivet still buried. This bouse has a wide door, above which is a fresco some six feet loiig t in which are depicted a rejoicing crowd playing round a throne on which in seated a divinity. Many of the figure* are playing cithcrnes, and a woinair* stretches out her arms inviting them to contribute gifts, while two other female figures hold baskets in which to receive them. A wreath of Mowers ami foliage forms a herder to the whole. On the wall above, separated from each other by large red squares, are the figures, larger than life, of Jupiter, Mercury and Apollo, while a fourth figure is not yet identified. The features of Jupiter are rude, with a cruel expression. The coloring of the fresco is very vivid, and be proportions of the figures are just. Above ints (l ul a roof four or five feet wide, so that it not only protected the paintings but also the people walking below on th:» footway of the street. On the portion of the projection which in still intact is a balcony about ]Bft. long, again protruding for some three feet, with a parapet two feet high and 15 inches wide. The pavement is in fragments, which have all been found. In a still-existing corner of the parapet is a piece of a clay gutter. The wall of the house towards the side street is covered with red stucco on which are scribbled notices of the «det- ! lions then going on. Beyond the interruption of the side street comes the second bonne, more than JO feet high, with a balcony running along two sides. Part has fallon, but the rest is connected with the balcony of the third house. Below, in the side street, is a fountain like all those found in Pompeii, and on the side of the bouse mcntionicd in an enormous fresco divided into an upper and lower portion. In the upper part are liguretl twelve gods, Jupiter being in the centre, with a small inscription below. On the lower part i* a. procession of four priests performing a sacriiice at an altar. Opposite the fountain in tho street is a small altar about three feet high, belonging evidently to a public shrine, represented by the fresco described. In this little altar there is- cut a channel for the blood of the sacrifice to run off into the street. " Vote for Fuscus." The walls of the third house are plastered with white stucco covered with inscriptions in favor of a duumvir. They are supposed to have, been written by two women whoso names are written aslant beneath in angular but grand characters, between Runic and Latin. I Tho inscription compose*! by these j women runs : As'elliiias noii sine Smyrine, ! pro C. Pollio Fusco .1). ' rogant. i ! ; Probably this means, roughly, "AselI Unas and Smyrine say 'Vote for Fuscus as y»;ur alderman.' " ) i Some adversary or wag has crossed lout. tho word "S.iiyriin " by a thin line ' and substituted a name scarcely dej c'pberable. ! Beyond this wall comes the door of the wine-shop or "bar." similar to all ' those found in Pompeii, but so well pre- ■ serve*! that it s> ejus to have been only | quite recently buried. There is the usual table or counter: its surface of ' gla::t d white tiles, in the round aporI lures of which are inserted very large ierra-colta wine-jars. At the back of i the shop is a raised piece of masonry, in which in inserted a large copper boiler coated by time with a blue patina. Jt* cover eloses hi rinet ically and has a handle 'surmounted by a cupid with a hole through which to pass a chain. I'iidernealh is the square hole for the fire. The Brit-man's Till. In the corner of the shop lies a number of amphorae of various dimensions' leaning against the w.all. On the counter is a Kinal! square box made of Inme, ■in which >\ re found gold and silver .coins, while others in copper lay open j en the counter. All about ihe place lie a quantity of I objects;, among which are two rude clay j amphorae in the shape of cocks, tho ; beaks forming the spouts, and a pretty j j:r of opaline glass about It* inches high | a.nd two wide, with very delicate hanjd'is a'taciad io the neck, which ends jin vi:.!i a fine point and narrow hole j th.it the loiitents could only issue drop I by drop. ('nps of diaphanous glass; tiny clay ' !;iii:;u in the shape of a hum-in foot in a da!, on the sole of which is thft , ii.ii.e , f the maker, one "Spondillius" ; ;.iiaiiKe lamps like a pair of scales; a ! small tub with two iron hoops, and a >opp: i tap are among the more than KOO j objects found. All the Utensils are ad- ; •:-irable for simplicity ami elegance. j Pxyond the fronts of lhese house* | everything is still buried, but their size j..':il soli.iify prove that probably many | • -:» "--I and lanilli which have to be rej moved. I The stone a'ohiirave of another house l b.i'f-i xcavaied is all brok: n. but on the [ parapet, of Ihe verandah wen- fonn<l small day vessels for holding water, probably for the use of the net birds of the mistress of the house. This verandah is 18 foot wide and five, feet wide. Next is a still fitter verandah with seve•al stone Doric pillars, with channelled 'tuivo up to a certain height. The other sid ■ of ibe stret is more '•'ten 'ding from the archaeological than Sri 'ii Hie arlisli- poiir of vej.c, but the bouses i!). re, three in number, have '_;•!; an Honor si on v and a balcony. r:irther excavations here are expected '■ ' reveal quHo a new oily beside the ' •.<■ already known, a citv bnr/bt<. r and :■" i >.\on:-; and possiblv full of beailli- ( ! thiues. I