2 Mr Parker, On the Forum and Colosseum. [Oct. 23, 



Constantine, on the latter of wliich a plan of the Forum is visible, 

 and also several bas-reliefs of earlier date and finer style ; these 

 had been probably removed from the arch at the entrance of 

 Trajan's Forum. 



After a short discussion with Mr Burn upon the aerarium, with 

 reference to the temple of Saturn, Mr Parker proceeded to give a 

 history of the Colosseum, and insisted that recent excavations 

 prove that we hav^e in the existing building old tufa walls of the 

 first amphitheatre of Scaurus (aedile 58 B. c), over which is brick- 

 work of the time of Nero ; and to these Vespasian and Titus added 

 the magnificent stone front and double corridors. In one of the 

 photographs of the upper part could be seen the corbels and holes 

 for the masts, 20 ft. high, which were to support the ropes of the 

 awning; these were strong enough to bear an elephant and his 

 rider. 



In the old tufa walls are vertical grooves for lifts to send up the 

 wild animals in cages on the stage or arena above, through trap- 

 doors ; and behind the outer wall, nearly under the podium of the 

 lower gallery, are dens for the wild beasts. It is actually said that 

 on some occasions a hundred lions leapt on to the stage at once. 

 Down the centre of the building is a wide passage called the gulf, 

 on the floor of which is an ancient framework in wood, that looks 

 as if it had been burnt, and which has all the appearance of what 

 is called a cradle in dockyards, for vessels to stand upon when not 

 in use. On each side of this central passage are remains of two 

 canals of water, supplied by the aqueducts for the keels of the 

 vessels, at the time of naval fights. On one occasion it is recorded 

 that these canals were filled with wine instead of water. Here in 

 one and the same day the Emperor Commodus is said to have 

 taken part in a wrestling match, which was succeeded by a fight 

 with wild beasts, this again by a sea-fight, and fourthly by his 

 orders the arena was cleared and then spread for a banquet, which 

 followed immediately. The scenes must have been prepared 

 below, and sent up in the central passage to the arena above. 

 One of the photographs was a representation of the Tarpeian rock, 

 from the top of which culpi'its were thrown to the bottom of the 

 gulf The rock was 50 ft. high, and the gulf 21 ft. deep, so that 

 the culprits were cast down 71 ft., and the scene was witnessed by 

 eighty thousand people. 



All these very interesting substructures are at present under 

 water to the depth of ten feet, and a great drain is to be made to 

 carry off the water to. the Tiber. The upper part of the building 

 is the same as it has been for many years, and is well known from 

 engravings ; but all these substructures are an entirely new dis- 

 covery, and the photographs exhibited are now the only record of 

 them that is visible. 



