Excavations At Ostia.

series , to the right , is the cella of the Mithraic temple , a narrow oblong , terminating on the western side in a flight of six marble steps , on the lowest of which stands a small plain stone altar , with a cavity at the summit for libations , and the legible epigraph in front , G . Ooslius Kermceros

antistes hujus loci fecit sua pee ( unia ) . At each side , apparently for communicating with the platform above the altar , are narrow corridors , lateral to the staircase , ancl now more ruinous than the other parts . On the floor are the words , inscribed in mosaicrepeated along two

borders—, , Soli Invict . Mit . DD . F .. Agr-uis Oolendis . The several other chambers adjacent to this fane , now reduced to a state of scarce-intelligible ruin , are so connected with it that one may fairly suppose them to have served for its priesthood or other purposes pertaining to its rises . At some distance from

these excavations stands the most conspicuous of the Ostian antiquities , the cella of a temple supposed ( though without reliable evidence ) to be that of Jupiter , and , at all events , one whose character muse have been imposing , ancl art decorations splendid ; its area ample ; its walls of

lateritia-1 brickwork , still lofty ancl well preserved ; though of the roof remains nothing , ancl the front has also vanished . Along the side opposite the entrance is a wide extent of massive stonework , in which we recognise the remnant of a large altar and platforms ; the rich marble pavement ( mentioned as extant several years ago , in Nibby ' s

" Conform di Eorna ) , has disajjipeared , all but an immense threshold-stone of fine African breccia ; ancl in the midst open two yawning cavities , one filled with soil , the other allowing a ghmpse into a dark subterranean . The posticum , on its outer side , is perforated with cavities at regula intervals ,

probably for the pivots by which a marble incrustation was fastened ; and on the ground-floor , below that part of the cella where stood the altar , Ave enter by an arched ingress ( lately opened ) into the outer compartment of a system of crypts , whereunder a high-hung vaultlie a profusion of

, , marble fragments , some pertaining to richly-chiseled architecture , which we can only inspect in dim light admitted from the doorway . From this chamber is communication with the inner penetralia not yet cleared out , but soon to be so , from which further continuance of the works in this

temple we may expect valuable results . Around the outer walls are portions of pavement , in very ample white marble slabs , numerous fragmentary shafts ancl cornices in the same material , the latter presenting fine examples of dental , ancl eggmoulding . Seeing the extent of area over which

these marble remnants are strewn , we may conclude they belonged to the sacred enclosure ( peribolos ) , that must have been ample in plan , and majestic in architectonic character . It is evident from the elevation of ruin-masses , that a flight of steps must have led to the entrance of the cella , whose front was hexastyle , of the

Corinthian order , as inferrible from its ; remains , and the colonade ronnd the enclosing court seems to have been of smaller shafts in the same order . Gell gives the measurement of the whole area as about 270 Eoman palms in length , by 120 in breadth . The wild solitude amidst which it stands

enhances the effect of mournful grandeur m a rum not otherwise of extraordinary character , as to either dimensions or artistic claims . The recent directing of the excavators' labours to this centre has been judicious ; but we were sorry to hear of the removal of several great marble shafts from

these interesting ruins , to " St . Peter ' s" as the custode reported , but we conclude , by mistake , — St . Paul ' s on the Ostian Way being , in all probability , the church for whose restorations they are destined . Besides the above-named , other noticeable discoveries on this site are the

substructures of a granary and another public magazine , in whose spacious area are still seen files of enormous terra-cotta amphora ? , embedded in the ground up to their necks , mostly filled with clay , instead of the oil they were probably destined for . The wide-spanning arch of a ruinous gateway ,

seaward , forms one of the conspicuous features among these relics of a vanished city , once peopled , it is said , by 30 , 000 souls , but left to decay so early as the sixth century of our era . As to the style of these Ostian ruins generally , Ave observe indications of a goodbut rarely those

, of the best , period in Eoman masonry—the opus reticulatum frequently seen , ancl quite compact ; the brickwork , in some examples , with broad layers of cement , such as characterise the period of decline .

Soon are to be commenced other works on this site among the hitherto neglected ruins of a theatre , only a single arcade of which stands in intelligible form beside other vague piles of brickwork . Out of proper regard for the health of the poor galleoiti ( condemned prisoners ) the Ostian works are

suspended from the 10 th of June till a period in the autumn . The deposit of antiques in the village contains sarcophagi , epitaphs , lamps , terra cotta ornaments of tombs , amphora ? , & c , the most valuable to be eventually transferred to Eome ' s Museums ; the most remarkable among those

objects still left here is a recumbent female figure , headless , naked clown to the waist , but for the rest draped , with a fine character of execution in the nude , and in the drapery retaining the red tint , much faded , in which the whole of that portion has been painted .

Eecently have been brought to Eome a fresco of Orpheus and Eurydice from the painted sepulchre above noticed ; and a mosaic , of a priest offering sacrifice at the flaming altar , now in the Lateran Museum . Another mosaic , covering a very large area , Avas transferred from Ostia to the

Vatican some time ago , and is now laid in the hall where Podesti is painting a great series of frescoes to illustrate the 'dogmatic proclamation of the