THE GALLEYS OF TIBERIUS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1928, Page 3

THE GALLEYS OF TIBERIUS

The Roman emperor, Tiberius, Lai two ships built and launched upoi the Lake of Nemi. The lake wa known to the ancients as the Mirro of Diana, because of her temple am grove on the eastern side of the lake and because the round lake lies fa down and its surface gleams in Ji< sunlight like a polished mirror. Tin three pieces of bronze, recovered some wears ago bv grappling, prove tlial these pleasure ships of the emperoi were decorated by skilled artists. AYhen Premier Mussolini announced recently at a meeting of the Roman Historical Society that the Government was soon to put into the hands of a special commission the recovery of these two ships the liveliest enthusiasm and expectations were aroused. Not only is there certainty of finding many treasures of art, but archaeology, history and engineering will all profit by the examination of the. galleys. The boats sank during a storm before the close of the reign of Tiberius. Several efforts have been made to recover them. In 14-17, Leon ft attisto Alberti, the architect to the tyrant, Sigismondo Mala testa, was able to get a cable attached to the bow of one of the galleys, which was in some -sixty feet of water. The cable broke. All Alberti got was a fragment of a colossal statue. Francesco Demarcbi, of Bologna, tried again about 1550. He went down himself several times in a primitive sort of diving suit, and brought up pieces of wood. ITe said that the deck of the galley he examined was paved with small red bricks. He gave up his attempts after the pressure of the water burst a vein in his head. Li 1827 Annesio Fusiono, an hydraulic engineer, tried again. He followed the lead of Demarchi, except that he set a stage for his diving experiment. Before a crowd of invited persons he went down a number of times and brought up the capitals of several bronze columns, part of an inscribed tablet and numerous small tiles of terracotta. But he was mill hie to interest any of the spectators in backing his enterprise, so he gave

it up. The Flemish avchacologist,' o°ndantine Maes, was equally unsueccssul in getting anyone to give him inaucial backing. He measured both 'alleys and published his findings. Iho largest galley, which lies nearest lie shore, is 430 feet long and 215 'cot wide. A Roman antiquary, vliqse names does not appear, decid'd to fish for treasures which were on lie decks of the boats. This was in 893. He fished up a splendid Molusa head and two wolves 1 heads of irnnzc. They wore brought from him y the Government, but his work was topped officially. But now, either by raining tlu l lake of! temporarily, or y some other means, tor it has not een decided as yet, the recovery of he two lost pleasure galleys of Tierius is seemingly assured.