Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 April 1898 — LATEST POMPEIIAN DISCOVERY. [ARTICLE]

LATEST POMPEIIAN DISCOVERY.

Evidences of the Ancient Roman Waterworks Again Fonnd. The house of Vettius has two entrances, the principal one facing the east and opening to the street which led to the city gate, and a side entrance Which is directly opposite to the modern wooden pent-house erected to protect the ancient Roman water pipes, which branch off here in many directions. Most visitors will remember this curious Illustration of ancient water works, the earliest and most complete that are known to us, and by the help of the description we have given should have no difficulty in locating the house. The building obtained its name from three signets found In the atrium, one of which bore the legend A. Yettii Oonvivaes, which may be interpreted “Of, belonging to, A. Vittius Conviva;” the second, A, Vettil Restituti, or “The property of A. Vettius Restitutno,” and the third, which was a bronze ring, and bore the latter AVCo, evidently an abbreviation of the first signet. Besides these there were three engraved stones having the respective ornaments of an amphora, an Ivy leaf, and the caduceus of Mercury. In Roman times a man’s signet was the most important of his possessions. It served the purpose of a signature, for all business transactions were ratified by it, and as in those days locks and keys had not long been invented, the stores and valuables of many houses were still kept strictly under the seal of the owner. It was a felony to make two signets alike, and hence in the gems of the ancients we have the most marvelous compendium of their customs, manners and beliefs. We may hence be pretty confident that the house belonged to Aulus Vettius.— Scribner’s.