OLD ROMAN GALLEYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20218, 1 April 1929, Page 9

OLD ROMAN GALLEYS.

CALIGULA'S PLEASURE CRAFT ONE UNCOVERED IN LAKE NEMI. Australian and N.Z. Press Association. (Received March 31, 5.45 p.m.) ROME, March 30. As a sequel to more than five months of pumping at Lake Nomi the poop of Caligula's galley lias been revealed. Italian flags were hoisted on it. The timbers of the galley are well preserved after nearly 2000 years' submersion. It is hoped to recover the entire galley, also a second one lying deeper in the centre of the lake.

The Prime Minister of Italy, Signer Mussolini, on October 22, set in motion electric pumps to drain the historic Lake Nemi, and thus bring to light Caligula's galleys. It was calculated that it would take 'from two to three months to drain the 140 feet of water to cause the galleys to emerge, as springs arc continually replenishing the waters of the 13 Onius Caesar, surnamed Caligula, was Emperor of Rome from A.D. 37 to 41. Ho was cruel and extravagant. He assassinated in A.D. 41. He had a number «f pleasure galleys, richly furnished and decorated, on Lake Nomi,.which is situated in the crater of an old volcano about 17 miles from Rome. Aftei Gal • aula's death these galleys gradually sank to the bottom of the lake. Signer Muss.oiini became interested in them, and divers were sent down to see if they could he recovered.