HERCULAHEUM. 
133 
'ts patchwork oric;in, still conveys a hiffh iJea 
of tl>e ancient artist. 
* ^oriim, which was contiguous to the theatre, besicle 
'■'iangf otof inscriptions, columns, &c. two beautiful eques- 
Hi(g '^'os of the Balbi family were found. These are of 
tlip and are deposited in the hall of the left wing 
, 4 ,i;.-‘'!='oe.atPorticI. 
S?*' 
to the forum stood the temple of Hercules, an 
Viip^/otuiida, the interior of which was decorated with 
f’ "letlr f ’ 
■^1 paintings, such as Theseus returning from his 
. ^pfiiiture with the Minotaur ; tiie birth of Tele- 
ti'a’ "Joii the ccutaur instructing Achilles, &rc. These 
'■ill. 
tk'^’^fhlly separated from the walls, and are deposited 
most 
> "it 0 
j.'*‘"hor Peculiarity of it.s plan, but because the greater 
tPost important di.scovcry, however, was that of a 
nt ■'’‘•lall ilistaiice front the forutn ; not only on ac- 
, 'liter I- ' - - 
i',''' tvorks of art were dug out of its precinct ; 
of '■‘.speo'tallv bectittsc it conlttiticd a library consist- 
I *^ian liftecn httndred t'ohiracs, which are likc- 
5 'b!,; y '^eposUed in llie inusetim, and wliich, were tliey 
form a great cltissic treasure. Tliese will bo 
]j f'hc yii, ^'•‘ier the licad of P.vt’Yiii. 
V f'ltt 'f conjectured to have belonged to one of tlie 
K " gr- Altliougli elegtinl, it was stuall, and consisted 
II t'^bor cinly, like those of Pompeii. Beside a 
■‘''■Uall closots round an interior liall, it contained 
curiously fitted up with marble and water- 
|v^.^ Or ^ chapel of a diminutive size, without any win- 
til|'''Cd for day-light, llie walls of which \v 
.He 
ere 
serpents, and within which a bronze tripod, 
Cinders and aslie.s, was found standing on tlie 
!'<t 
"pan. 
'fiJ.'i 'wliich contained the library was fitted up 
l|. ' n i'' Pi'csscs around the vsalls, about si.x feet in 
^bor'^'^blc row of presses stood insulated in the mid- 
*1 5 "s to admit a free passage on every side, 
'iitr, " biieh the presses had been made, wtis burned 
CopL^'^'^ gave way at the first touch ; but tlie vo- 
'*"^''.*1 Or ^ much more perishable substance, tlie 
'''‘z.M ,, y’’acusan papyrus, were, although completelj 
’’cugli the effect of the' heat, still so far p/e- 
