(_The order is liable to alteration, as objects are constantly being
added._)
This museum is formed of the remains found in the excavations of the
municipality since Rome was made the capital of united Italy. The new
circular hall, designed by Signor Vespignani, presents a light and
elegant effect. Amongst the most important subjects placed in the new
hall, we may mention No. 2, the monument of Quintus Sulpicius Maximus,
found in 1870 in the Old Porta Salaria. The inscription states that he
died at the early age of thirteen years, five months, and twelve days.
He carried off the honours for composing Greek verse against fifty-two
competitors. The poem is engraved on the pilasters. The subject
is--The arguments used by Jove in reproving Phœbus for intrusting
his chariot to Phaeton. Africa's deserts and the negroes' black skins
are ascribed to the careless driving of Phaeton on that occasion. No.
5. Venus. 23. Mercury. 11. A bust of Faustina the elder. 13. A youth
anointing himself. 14 and 16. Tritons. 15. A half statue of the
Emperor Commodus as Hercules, beautifully executed in fine marble,
with the lion's skin over his head and knotted upon his chest: in his
right hand is the club. A bracket of marble, ornamented at its end
with a celestial globe, rested on the pedestal, which formed a shield,
a band running round the centre with the signs of the zodiac. This
bracket is supported by two kneeling figures, holding cornucopias
containing fruit. One is in good preservation; the fragments of the
other were also found. 17. Plotina, wife of Trajan. 18. Apollo. 19.
Bacchus, with a satyr on a leopard at his side. 21. Sarcophagus of the
Calydonian boar hunt. Polyhymnia. 24. Terpsichore. 26. A beautiful
nude statue of a young girl or nymph leaving the bath, of Parian
marble, standing with sandalled feet by a pedestal, which supports
her robe, the left hand fastening up the hair. 28, 29. Two magistrates
about to start the racers by dropping a handkerchief. They represent
L. A. A. Symmachus, prefect of Rome, A.D. 365, and his son; and are
unique. The father was found in one hundred and eighty pieces, and the
son in ninety pieces, which have been carefully put together. 31.
Colossal statue. 33. Fortune. Apollo with the Lyre. Relief, forging
the Shield of Minerva. 38, 42. Athletes starting for the Race. 40_a_.
A Cow. 44. Manlia Scantilla. Marsyas bound to the tree; the finest
statue in the collection, found in 1879. 48. Didia Clara. 49_a_. A
Roman General; a striking statue. 8. The Earth; a sitting statuette in
a niche found in the Roman Cemetery. 9. A Baccante.
_In the inner circle._--A magnificent marble vase, found upon the
Esquiline, called by the Greeks a Rhyton: it is the work of Pontios,
an Athenian sculptor. A vase with figures in relief. The infant
Hercules found at the Cemetery of S. Lorenzo. Another vase. The Muse
of Astronomy. _Exit._ 74, 75. Hercules taming the Horses: part of a
group found in many fragments, and very skilfully put together. Seated
statue of a girl. 133. Minerva. 130. A statue of Silenus, which was
formerly a fountain. A youth carrying a pig for sacrifice. Cupid
playing with a tortoise. 123. Boy with a puppy. 81. Statuette of
Venus. 81_a_. A Sleeping Cupid. 124. A large stone shield sculptured
with the acanthus leaf. 90. Mithras slaying the Bull. 117, 105, 106.
Reliefs relating to the worship of the Persian sun-god Mithras,
recently found on the Esquiline Hill.
_Crossing the Hall of Busts, by Canova's Monument, we enter the_