Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/304

 250 EXPLORATIONS IX ROME. liexaficonal form called Etruscan vaultiii}:!;, the same as tiie oldest parts of the Cloaca !>raxima. This passage had been filled up ^vith earth and rubbish for centuries, and beini; at a great depth, and below the level of the drains of the modern street that has been made above (partly upon the vaults of the old prison), this task proved a very arduous, tedious, and expensive one, but the results are so important towards proving the truth of Livy's History in these particulars, and explaining several passages in other classical authors, that the money lias been well spent. It is now a matter of demonstra- tion that this is the prison made by King Ancus Martins " in the mirio, and the Vicolo del Ghettarello) was called the Lautumia and also the lowest prison. These cellars we have now rented for some years for the purpose of exploring them thoroughly, and making researches from thence umler the street ; for this vaulted passage runs under the present street for nearly its whole length. At the north-east end we have not been able to clear it out to the proi>er entrance, as we were stopped by water which we could not get rid of; but we found another short passage of brick leading into this stone p)a.ssngc from one of the chambers (now cellars). At the south-west end it opens into the lower cliainber of what is called the " Prison of S. Peter," where 1 had discovered a doorway long walle<l up, and obtained leave to open it (not without some difiiculty). The upper part of this great ju'ison w;is rebuilt in the time of the Emperor Tiberius, as we know by an inscription still remaining on the cornice of the wall of tlie upper storey ; but the portion so rebuilt is of travertine, according to the ciist<tm of that period, not of tufa. The lower storey being underground, was not rebuilt, being probably considered as only foundations ; but from its low level it was liable to be fioodeil at ceitain times of the year, and Ibr that reason when the upjier jiart was rebuilt in the tinir of Tiberius, a. I). i2i2, the lldor of the lower part was rai.sed i)y being filled np willi earth to the lie'ight of 7 or 8 ft., and the lloor of the storey above was ftlso rai.sed in the same projioition. This is shown by the ' A, n. c. |u, 15. c. 713; J.ivii, Uiat. lib. i. caj.. 33.