New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-08-11
INTERESTING DISCOVERIES.
CARTHAGE.

Correspondence Of The N. Y Tribune.
CARTHAGE, April 81 1857.
beg that you will allow me to give youat once az
account, though hasty and imperfect Of the exces
sively interesting monuments which have recently
been discovered in these hallOwed precincts by ar
English gentleman the Rev. N. Davis They con
sist Of MOsacs and Punic inscriptions. The Mosaic
are rich in color, chaste and tasteful in design, aot
of an execute at once fne rare and artistic. The
Punic inscriptions are probably yotive tablets
Trey are cut in calcareous stone, and the charac'
tiers are nearly all in good state Of preservation
Mr.. Davis, who is emp Dyed BY the British Coy
eminent, made some six or eight unsuccessful ex-
cavations in different parts of what is considered
to have been the most popuous portion Of the city;
at last he came to those gradual activities which
overlook the harbor Of Tunis-sOme pleasing eleva.
tions not far from what we nOw decide to be tue
Byrsa and the Forum-and there bis lsbOIs were
duly rewarded BY the untombipg Of the following
Mosaics:
A colossal head of Ceres and another, unknown,
but very likely Of Ia dfesss Asarte or AstarOth, or
priestess of the temple (sOme call these the heads
Of Dido and Juno); two fuILlength female figures,
about two.thirds the aize of life, making offerings
at affairs; . figure Of Victory, with Roman dedi-
catory inscription; circular floor, with On elaso-
rate border having within il q basket of towers
and basket Of fish; several square floors, that
have radatng from their centers, squares, circles,
trisngles, &C., interviewer with a harmony and
mathematical precision that is quite remarkable,
the whole enriched by elaborate borders.
The frat mentioned heads are thirteen inches 10
length withOu. the couture. One wears a wreath
made Of the stalks of wheat; the other has ADORE
her forehead an oblong circle, which appears to
be formed BY portion Of her luxuriant hsi.,
which is carried back from the face in massive
wavy folds, Ia mode, at this day, in Frauce and
America. The foreheads of these two figures are
not 30 low a. those usually represented in Greek
sculptures but their noses are straight and regular
and their ehins are plump and round. Their lips,
however, are thicker than those We see 10 Greek or
Roman works Of art; the ruby part, ia lite curve
and fulness indicating descent from the Semitic,
rather than the Caucasian or Undo. German:c Races
The figures at the affairs are e.ch under & len.
cred y tree. On ono Of the affairs u transparent
bowl il evidently represented, into which braoch,
apparently loaded with the mulberry berry. is being
placed by the wOrshjpef. Before the other, at the
foot Of the affair." there is vessel full Of some E,nid
that has floating upon il what may be eapsdersd,
without any stretch Of the imagination cscoons OF
silk A portion Of the head Of each Of these besuti-
full Presesses had been destroyed by the foundation
walls Of some superpcsed building but with this sx-
cspton they are nearly perfect Another priest
ess like the above has been found; she is represent
I'd dancing beftre the altar.
The Victory have not seen, as it is covered in
the process Of removal but am told that it Is an
aerial figure bearing in an extended hand crown
or wreath. Eel, 80
The baskets Of AsA and flowers are represented
on their sides, and their contents consequently how
ing out upon tne.6cOr. This must have been 2 1T.
tie GEM OF an spartme Mt for the work Is OF the high
est order; the fish and flowers being 30 well exc.
ecuted a. to make it easy ~ distinguish to what
class they belong.
To what epoch to refer thsse ancient and interest
ing relics, is now question. As regards tie one
bearing tho Roman inscription. there 10 hardly
room pr conjecture; but respecting the otkes,
viii give you description II them, their position,
&C., anil let you jndgs for yourself. 1, however.
have Just heard q would-be sarant declare that he
does not believe any Of them to be Punic; but
differ With him IN oil humility.
In tie 6nt place, and very iSrtauately for the e.
tsbshing Of basis (oe the solution 0 tAe difficult
ty. three mosaic Aeeu have beea discoveeed. just
20 nearly ore tbeve tbe other - 70 allow portion
Of each to DO uaeoyeted without removing either n