he Appian Way, five miles from the gate, at a
place called Statuario (the same as S. Maria Nova). Some workmen
engaged in searching for stones and marbles have discovered there a
marble coffin of great beauty, with a female body in it, wearing a
knot of hair on the back of her head, in the fashion now popular among
the Hungarians. It was covered with a cap of woven gold, and tied with
golden strings. Cap and strings were stolen at the moment of the
discovery, together with a ring which she wore on the second finger of
the left hand. The eyes were open, and the body preserved such
elasticity that the flesh would yield to pressure, and regain its
natural shape immediately. The form of the body was beautiful in the
extreme; the appearance was that of a girl of twenty-five. Many
identify her with Tulliola, daughter of Cicero, and I am ready to
believe so, because I have seen, close by there, a tombstone with the
name of Marcus Tullius; and because Cicero is known to have owned
lands in the neighborhood. Never mind whose daughter she was; she was
certainly noble and rich by birth. The body owed its preservation to a
coating of ointment two inches thick, composed of myrrh, balm, and oil
of cedar. The skin was white, soft, and perfumed. Words cannot
describe the number and the excitement of the multitudes who rushed to
admire this marvel. To make matters easy, the Conservatori have agreed
to remove the beautiful body to the Capitol. One would think there is
some great indulgence and remission of sins to be gained by climbing
that hill, so great is the crowd, especially of women, attracted by
the sight.

"The marble coffin has not yet been removed to the city; but I am told
that the following letters are engraved on it: 'Here lies Julia Prisca
Secunda. She lived twenty-six years and one month. She has committed
no fault, except to die.' It seems that another name is engraved on
the same coffin, that of a Claudius Hilarus, who died at forty-six. If
we are to believe current rumors, the discoverers of the body have
fled, taking with them great treasures."

And now let the reader gaze at the mysterious lady. The accompanying
cut represents her body as it was exhibited in the Conservatori
palace, and is taken from an original sketch in the Ashburnham Codex,
1174, f. 134.

[Illustration: The body of a girl found in 1485.]

Celio Rodigino, Leandro Alberti, Alexander ab Alexandro and Corona
give other particulars of some interest