Geological History--Volcanic Origin--Early Legends--Cloaca Maxima--Work of Excavation--AErarium--Capitol--Temple of Concord--Temple of Jupiter--Arch of Septimius Severus--Milliarium Aureum--Mamertine Prison--Pillar of Phocas--Suovetaurilia--Curia Hostilia--Comitium--Curia of Diocletian--Basilica Julia--Vicus Tuscus--Temple of Castor and Pollux--Atrium Vestae--Temple of Vesta--Temple of Antoninus Pius and Faustina--Church of SS. Cosma e Damiano--Colosseum--Conflagration in Forum CHAPTER VI THE EGYPTIAN OBELISKS Number of Obelisks in Rome--Sun Worship--Symbolism of Obelisk--Obelisk of Nebuchadnezzar--Original position of Obelisks--Egyptian Propylons--Changes connected with Obelisks in Egypt--Transportation of Obelisks to Rome and other places--Obelisk of Heliopolis--Obelisk of Luxor--Karnac--Lateran Obelisk--Obelisk in Square of St. Peter's--Obelisk of Piazza del Popolo--Association of Fountains with Obelisks--Obelisk of Monte Citorio--Esquiline and Quirinal Obelisks--Obelisk of Trinita dei Monti--Pamphilian Obelisk--Obelisks near Pantheon--Superiority of Oldest Obelisks--Obelisk of Paris--Cleopatra's Needles in London and New York--Religious Devotion of Ancient Egyptians CHAPTER VII THE PAINTED TOMB AT VEII Excursions in neighbourhood of Rome--History of Veii--Uncertainty of its Site--Journey to Isola Farnese--Village of Isola--Romantic Scenery--Desolate Downs--Roman Municipium--Old Gateway--Ponte Sodo--Necropolis of Veii--Painted Tomb--Archaic Frescoes--Objects in Inner Chamber--Etruscan Tombs imitative of Homes of the Living--Worship of the Dead--Cellae Memoriae--Antiquity of Tomb at Veii--Mysterious character of Etruscan Language and History CHAPTER VIII HOLED STONES AND MARTYR WEIGHTS Bocca della Verita--Primitive Worship of Clefts in Rocks and Holes in Stones--Cromlechs--Passing through beneath Cromlechs and Gates--Tigillum Sororium--Pillars in Aksa Mosque at Jerusalem--"Threading the Needle" in Ripon Cathedral--Standing Stones of Stennis and Oath of Odin--Cremave--Jewish Covenant--Martyr Stones--Originally Roman Measures of Weight--Made of Jade or Nephrite--Remarkable History of Jade--Prehistoric Glimpses--Relics of Stone Age in Rome--Conservation of things connected with Religion CHAPTER IX ST. ONOFRIO AND TASSO