Vignette 22
It is the fountain of Mercury, so called, as will be seen, from the head of the god and the caduceus. It is formed of the common dark-coloured volcanic stone. The figure of Mercury, here represented as running away with a bag of stolen goods and a purse, though rather rudely painted upon an opposite wall, with a figure of Fortune near it, seemed worth preserving, and has been accordingly placed at the fountain. Near this, five skeletonswere found, two palms above the pavement, with four bracelets, four gold rings, a coin of Vespasian, and sixty-three silver with twenty-eight copper medals. |