[Illustration]
In excavating the open space of the Comitium upon the Forum in the
summer of 1872, an interesting discovery was made of two marble
screens or balustrades sculptured on each side, the one being some
historic scene, the other representing animals. At the time, and since
their discovery, many suggestions have been offered as to their
signification and use, but none seemed satisfactory, at least to us.
After considerable thought, examination of the ground, and putting
this and that together, we have arrived at an estimate of their use
and meaning entirely different from the hitherto received opinion; in
which we are supported by their construction and the classic passages
relating to them. They are _in situ_ as found, but a new piece of
marble has been put under them.
From this it will be seen that we have made an important discovery
bearing upon the topography of the Forum, which will be of interest
not only to classical students, but to every one interested in the
word Rome.
We have discovered that the reliefs on the screens upon the Comitium
in the Forum portray scenes from the life of Marcus Aurelius, showing
in their backgrounds the buildings occupying two sides of the
Forum--from the Temple of Concord to the Arch of Fabius--and that
these marble balustrades led up to the statue of that emperor. The
space where it stood can be plainly traced upon the pavement; and that
is why these pictures refer to epochs of his life. The statue is still
existing, and now stands in the square of the Capitol, where it was
erected by Michael Angelo, who brought it from the Lateran in 1538,
where it had been placed about 1187, when it was removed from the
Forum, near the Column of Phocas, where it had long been looked upon
as a statue of Constantine, and is so called in the Regiona Catalogue;
hence its preservation.
The whole group was evidently erected in honour of Marcus Aurelius,
and in commemoration of the important events in his life depicted on
the screens, as recorded by Dion Cassius.
The first relief represents a scene upon the Forum between the old
Rostra Marsyas and the fig-tree--burning the forty-six years' arrears
of debts which Marcus Aurelius had forgiven the people.
"After that he remitted all that had been due to the Public and
Imperial Treasuries for the course of forty-six years, without
including therein Hadrian's reign, and ordered all the papers of
claims to be burned in the Forum" (Dion Cassius, "Marcus Aurelius").
This was on the marriage of his son Commodus with Crispina.
It will be noticed that the relief is to the right of the fig-tree and
Marsyas. Now, if we go round to the other relief, we have the same
tree and Marsyas in the same relative positions; but the relief is to
the left, and the scenes are taking place between the Rostra Julia,
the fig-tree, and Marsyas:--
Giving the donation of eight pieces of gold.
Roma, or perhaps Faustina, thanking him for the Puellæ Faustinianæ.
"After he had come back to Rome, as he was one day haranguing the
people, and speaking of the number of years he had spent abroad in his
expeditions, the citizens with a loud voice cried out, 'Eight,' at the
same time extending their hands to receive as many pieces of gold. The
emperor, smiling, repeated, 'Eight,' and ordered every Roman eight
pieces, which was so considerable a sum, that so great a one was never
given before by any emperor" (Dion Cassius, "Marcus Aurelius").
It will be noticed that two men are holding up their hands with
fingers extended, one five, the other three--eight.
The other scene on this relief represents a female figure advancing to
the seated figure of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, leading a child and
carrying another, to thank him for the orphan schools he founded in
Rome in memory of his wife after her death, and which he named after
her. "New Faustinian schools he instituted in honour of his dead wife"
(Julius Capitolinus, "M. Antoninus," xxvi.).