DOI Kapitel:
Chapter VI: From Naples to Castellamare
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.59000#0256
From Naples to Castellamare
“ Excavations were carried on carelessly and no
photos taken. In 1901 Signor Mariano Canizzaro, in
a paper printed for private circulation, suggested that
the skeleton might be that of Pliny the elder himself.
The skeleton was found surrounded by a vast quantity
of household gods and goods, such as tripods, some
modelled in terra-cotta. Unless these objects belonged
to Pompeians (in whose company Pliny probably was
at the time of the catastrophe), we cannot imagine that
the gallant old admiral was rushing to the rescue of the
Pompeians and Herculaneans with a lot of clay figures
in his hands.” 1
Except for the treasures of sculptured and inscribed
fragments buried in the dusty vaults of the cathedral,
nothing older than mediaeval times is to be seen about
Castellamare. Before the Church of Pozzano, in a
solitary corner, overlooking the water, a cross rises from
a fluted column poised upon a marble altar to Diana,
a tiny relic of those Pagan days that has outlasted
temples and monuments. The emblem of the Goddess,
a garlanded stag, is sculptured on either side, and round
the pedestal are exquisite wreaths of flowers and fruit.
The rose-tipped marble is dented and dulled now, the
toy of the idly busy hands of children.
Below it juts out the old castle of the Middle Ages
from which Castellamare is said to have derived its name.
Mediaeval times changed the character of this coast
as completely as Christianity and its Churches wiped
away the traces of Paganism. Towers and castles gave
1 R. Lanciani.
117
“ Excavations were carried on carelessly and no
photos taken. In 1901 Signor Mariano Canizzaro, in
a paper printed for private circulation, suggested that
the skeleton might be that of Pliny the elder himself.
The skeleton was found surrounded by a vast quantity
of household gods and goods, such as tripods, some
modelled in terra-cotta. Unless these objects belonged
to Pompeians (in whose company Pliny probably was
at the time of the catastrophe), we cannot imagine that
the gallant old admiral was rushing to the rescue of the
Pompeians and Herculaneans with a lot of clay figures
in his hands.” 1
Except for the treasures of sculptured and inscribed
fragments buried in the dusty vaults of the cathedral,
nothing older than mediaeval times is to be seen about
Castellamare. Before the Church of Pozzano, in a
solitary corner, overlooking the water, a cross rises from
a fluted column poised upon a marble altar to Diana,
a tiny relic of those Pagan days that has outlasted
temples and monuments. The emblem of the Goddess,
a garlanded stag, is sculptured on either side, and round
the pedestal are exquisite wreaths of flowers and fruit.
The rose-tipped marble is dented and dulled now, the
toy of the idly busy hands of children.
Below it juts out the old castle of the Middle Ages
from which Castellamare is said to have derived its name.
Mediaeval times changed the character of this coast
as completely as Christianity and its Churches wiped
away the traces of Paganism. Towers and castles gave
1 R. Lanciani.
117