The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-01-07
OLD ART TREASURES RECOTERED

A correspondent of the London Times
writing from Athens on the 2Sth of No.
vember says
On Tuesday last Il most important dis
covery was made in the exploration at
| the On er Ceremecius. When about 80
feet beyond the old city wall towards Pi-
r9us, the workmen Gaze upon Cubical
block of apparently solid masonry under
10 or II feet Of earth. On removing a
portion of this masonry, most beautiful
marble sarcophagus, 8 feet long, 4 feet
broad, and 6 deep, was revealed. 1t is
shaped like an empty sofa or couch,
with large flat pillow with tasselj at
the right hand, lying upon a luxurious
looking mattress, along The rounded edge
of which are carved alternately four
bands containing vine, olive rose and
oak leaves, and four squares with sea
nymphs and tritons in various positions.
The back and cxtremities of the couch
are raised, and on the outside of each end
are three large diamond shaped panels
surrounded with roses. The whole is
apparently supported upon four massive
legs, which terminate in ions feet; while
all round below the mattress, in imitation
Of hanging drapery, are curiously-twisted
tiuted lines, and at the bottom, forming
the lower edge, is band of oak leaves
with running stays and dogs at the cor
ners On the front of the curved arms
of the couch are olive berries and leaves,
and herons with their long legs and beaks
curously entwined as we see in old man
uscripts. The whole sarcOphagus,
formed Of two enormous blocks OF Pen
telic marble, without stain, is in the
highest style of art, and in a perfect state
of preservation.
On removing the upper slab, which,
being of huge sizr and ponderous sub
stance was work of no little dIfEulty;
there was seen male and female skele-
ton lying side by side, almost perfect,
though without halr or integument, or
indeed, anything except the following
beautiful and costly objects;
/, A pair of pendants for the ears, each
3 centimetres long and formed in two
parts. connected by loop hinge, the up
per being . small cube and the lower Il
long and short pyramid connected at
their bases the whole being of solid gold
and 50 heavy as to be suggestive of con-
siderable punishment to the wearer.
2. Two beautiful octagonal, open-work
bracelets of the same pattern and exqui-
site design and finish, having hinges at
the outer and inner edges, the pin Of one
of which bel G movable permits the
bracelet to be opened and closed The
work is composed of long square bars,
which on each Of the eight facets are
formed into an antique Greek letter, and
either bracelet contains name.
3. Two massive rings of gold (armlets)
with ten regular protuberances on the
outer surface, each of which originally
contain d blue glass or enamel intagios;
one of Artemis p still remains tolerably
intact; many, however, are too imper-
feet to be deciphered, and some have en-
tirely disappeared.
4. A large, plain sheet of gold of long,
oval shape and perforated at each ex-
/, I,tremity Ii is "A centimetres in length
by in width, and about the thickness
of cartridge paper, and appears to have
been an adornment worn oyer the brow.
3. A hollow, spherical pin-head, hav-
ing five facets and short tube On the
facets are sockets which once probably
contained gems, but if so they have dis
appeared, This may have been the beau
tiful head of an ivory or ebony pin for
fastening the hair.
8. A gold coin, about the size ofa six
pence, in perfect preservation, with a
head and the words 'Hadrian-August"
on the front. and a trophy of arms on the
reverse. This gives an approximate idea
of the seplIlchre,
7. Four pieces oftwisted fine gold wire,
81 centimetres long, probably used for
fastening the gold plate. This completes
the list Of precious articles, which weigh
altogether nearly pound of very pure