284 ANDREW JACKSON HOWE. 



was brought by Augustus from Heliopolis, in Egypt, 

 and was originally dedicated to the Sun. The obelisk 

 is now surmounted by a crucifix, placed there by 

 Pontifical edict. Several structures of Rome have 

 been bedecked with emblems of Christian worship. 

 The column of Marcus Aurelius is crowned with the 

 robed statue of a Pontiff. 



In the Palazza adjoining the Basilica of San 

 Giovanni in Laterano is quite an extensive museum ot 

 ancient and mediaeval art. This is about the only 

 church in Rome which permits the presence of profane 

 with Christian objects of art. The mosaics in the 

 floors of one or two halls are marvelously ingenious 

 and beautiful, gold and brilliants constituting the 

 leading ingredients of the composition. The dis- 

 plays of mosaic in animal forms are exquisite. The 

 picture gallery of the Christian Museum embraces 

 illumined scenes from the Old and NCAV Testaments 

 by a high grade of mediaeval painters. Before the 

 erection of St. Peter's, San Giovanni in Laterario was 

 the most important church in Rome. The octagonal 

 Baptistry may have suggested a larger and handsomer 

 structure of the kind at Pisa. 



The Castle of St. Angelo on the north of the 

 Tiber, and connected to the city by a bridge, with 

 spans adorned with colossal angels, was designed to 

 be the tomb of Hadrian, but the charming ruin is now 

 a castle guarding an easy approach to the Vatican by 

 this route. In the interior of the fort are several 

 gloomy dungeons, in which were incarcerated Beatrice 

 Cenci, Cellini, Cagliostro, and other distinguished 

 prisoners not in favor with the " powers " then ruling. 



A few minutes' walk by way of the Borgo Nuovo, 

 takes the tourist from the bridge and castle of St. 



