DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.847#0224
TAEQUINIA. 205
have long been forgotten, and were adorned with
many curious paintings of animals, snch as ele-
phants, which have never been found since. He
describes the grottos of the Cardinale and the
Tifone, together with some others we did not see,
but which are known, and his descriptions are so
exact and faithful, that Avolta gives him the fullest
credit for unexaggerated simple truth in all he says
of such as are unknown. I hope some of my coun-
trymen will see this book and translate it.
Avolta's enthusiasm had soon some actual food
wherewith to regale itself in discoveries of his own.
In his early youth an ancient warrior had been found
laid out in state, clad in the trappings of his dignity,
and from time to time discoveries had since been
made on a small scale of vases and ornaments of
gold and bronze; which served to whet desire
for things of more value, and to promise greater
rewards to a systematic search. The time for this
at length came. Lucien Bonaparte purchased es-
tates near Vulci, the principalities of Canino and
Musignano; and it was not long before he unveiled
the subterranean treasures of his new acquisition.
He gave the impulse, and companies were formed
in Rome, who, for the sake of profit, made extensive
excavations in the neighbourhood of Corneto.
Others were prompted by a more generous passion
for antiquity; and among these may be mentioned
Baron Stackelberg, Chevalier Kestner, Lord Kin-
naird, and the Gonfaloniere Avolta. The latter was
have long been forgotten, and were adorned with
many curious paintings of animals, snch as ele-
phants, which have never been found since. He
describes the grottos of the Cardinale and the
Tifone, together with some others we did not see,
but which are known, and his descriptions are so
exact and faithful, that Avolta gives him the fullest
credit for unexaggerated simple truth in all he says
of such as are unknown. I hope some of my coun-
trymen will see this book and translate it.
Avolta's enthusiasm had soon some actual food
wherewith to regale itself in discoveries of his own.
In his early youth an ancient warrior had been found
laid out in state, clad in the trappings of his dignity,
and from time to time discoveries had since been
made on a small scale of vases and ornaments of
gold and bronze; which served to whet desire
for things of more value, and to promise greater
rewards to a systematic search. The time for this
at length came. Lucien Bonaparte purchased es-
tates near Vulci, the principalities of Canino and
Musignano; and it was not long before he unveiled
the subterranean treasures of his new acquisition.
He gave the impulse, and companies were formed
in Rome, who, for the sake of profit, made extensive
excavations in the neighbourhood of Corneto.
Others were prompted by a more generous passion
for antiquity; and among these may be mentioned
Baron Stackelberg, Chevalier Kestner, Lord Kin-
naird, and the Gonfaloniere Avolta. The latter was