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342 outer courtyards of houses and the meeting of women in the inner courtyards, and on great occasions their tumultuous gatherings in the great amphitheatre to see prisoners and gladiators die a cruel death among the riotous joy and applause of multitudes. The scenes so often and so vividly described by writers seem to be passing before one's eyes,—ancient Roman history seems to be repeating itself, as one strolls silently and thoughtfully along these streets, conjuring up the venerable shades of an ancient world.

The quarter of the Forum is the finest. The Forum was the centre of all Roman towns, and naturally therefore we see here some of the finest temple of Pompeii; the temple of Jupiter, the temple of Venus, the temples of Augustus and Mercury, the tribunals and the prisons. Not far from this place is the quarter of the Theatres, with its great triangular Forum, the temple of Neptune and the extensive Barracks in which 63 skeletons and a great number of valuable objects have been discovered. Here are situated the large theatre and the small theatre, the first of which could probably accommodate nearly 4,000 people. Here, too, is the temple of Isis in which Lord Lytton lays one of his most striking scenes in his Last Days of Pompeii; and not far from it is the great amphitheatre of the town with its 34 rows of seats which could accommodate probably 30,000 people! The skilful novelist has very justly laid the last scene of his novel on this spot.

In the quarter of the Public Baths, we see the ruins of the Public Baths, and close to them we find wine