The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-30
TrE ENCAT.irI0NS .fr OLrMPIi.
Discovery OF a srarue by Praxirelc..


Cor espondfnceof hG Lonion ANsudnm.
The works began in October last. Or.
iltr~Chtell lepre-cuting the German. and DR..
AthauAiius DcWctriados the Greek Government.
Emo first trench was con inurd IN a straight line
win the de-ultoy dissings carried On ~ the
French 10 lN:4. wuen some fragments II cufnices
aud ot SLAB, Of a ccling inuic ted the vicinity
of the site of TIE Temple Of Jupiter. = he soil
here cxruvaied hy the &C. mans gave evidence
OF formation during the third or fourth century
Of uur era. Two trenches were duE-Ons TO
carry OF the rain waters and the other TO recon-
uuitfe SO to say, the ground. In the latter hewn
blocks Of stone were met with. and me base OF
"A Dnric column. TowNd tie end ~ November,
Or. nemetriades. writing to an Athenian PERIOD
teal. announced the active prose. uuon of the
eXchvttons, with I'D men az a depth OF over
four French metres. this bed nf earl being the
aluyial soil deposited over the site OF ancient
Arts, in the course Of the last ten or fifteen CEN
turies, by the yearly overflow OF the Alpheus,
and pre~entiu, no traces OF human hHbtRtiOn.
At the bottom, however, 81 the trench thus
dug out. a shattered inscription of the Ache m
Confederation, and near 1t, u your corresp9nd-
ent mentioned last week. n silver CON ~ Pro-
bus very found also succession of foundations
II several holdings, eNider tly of recent
period. ms was proved ny the presence In their
construction OF marble blocks taken from the
more ancient edllrcS. shortly alter. Duric
pital, with it, abacusin excellent preservation.
made its appearance. and was considered ~ be-
longing to one OF the columns supporting the
eastern pediment Of the temple. THIS supposi-
tion was borne cut bv the further disc very OF
fragments Of the n,arbls lilies described by Pau
nrs a. COMPOSING the roof OF the tempie.
cousii erabie number Of fragments of terrace tta
water c.uduits and ornaments some nearing
Later period, were found; also spear ads and
ira-ncnts OF bronze ooi'c some OF them eilt,
the most I'M portant heing small Hon resting on
two scrpents-pos-ibly the handl" OF some larger
vessrl-and brooch IN eNcell ut condition, and
lm0st identical In form with those used to this
day IN fastening Lace worn round the neck.
\ short pause now cnsued owing to the great
rainfall; but the works were soon resumed, and
the expectations Of the Commission began at
last to be realized, and their zeal rev ardcd, The
trunk Of \ statue, presenting every appearance
Of work of the highest art, was unearthed.
The head, arms. and legs are missing, hut the
mInship. aud other marks of this torso bear
evidence sufficient 10 warrant the suppOsition
IN II Is the statue OF jupiter one of the group
Of figures adjoining the pediment OF the temple
Tue hie-sze bead Of "a ttrri-cCtta statue im-
porant inAsmuch as II offers conclusive proof
Of the use by The ancient q eeks of this mate
rial for l.rge statues Was the last acquisition
reported by letter from OLYMPIA. On the l1st
dav Of the old yenr, however, a telegram was
received by the King from Dr. DtmetTiade-
Announcing a discovery which has nllcd Athens
with ioy. The statue Of Nike tNictorl also
one Of the group in the pediment-has been
found, embedded IN the soft nlluvnl soil, In an
almost perfect condiuon--as II II had only yes
terday been taken down from its cx ilted ped
estal. IL Is said TO No nRure OF unmatched
beauty and grandeur; and what gives II aftl
higher value T. the fact that the name Of Prhxi-
teles himself ~ Ia engraved ON II. This much Is
as yet known; out details are eagerly awaited.