The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-02-02
Schliemann's Discoveries at Mycen@.

DLSCUheIIeS 1T IL
The account which DR.. Schliemann |
sends to the London Times of his dis
coverles at Mycena, is of absorbing in
terest. Indeed, his letter reads more |
like an extract from the Arabian Nights |
than anything else. Such marvels has
he brought to light in gold, silver and
precious stones! The idea of q current
gentleman having in his possession
things without end that seemed goodly
to the eye in the heroic age; think of
numbering among ones prizes the prizes
that decked the victors in the Grecian
games. Truly, the gorgeous East, with
richest hand seems determined to show.
er, to rain upon DR.. Schliemann all that
is most precious in the unique world.
To be sure his letter to the Times is
little more than an inventory, but how
it glows and flashes and glistens. Two
edged bronze swords, golden shoulder
belts. golden helmets, golden girdle-
belts, "a splendidly ornamented golden
handle, probably of sceptre, terminal
ing in dragons head, whose scales
seem to have been initiated by square
pieces of rock crystal inlaid like mo-
saic," eight golden diadems, massive
gold bracelets, seal rings, vases, crosses,
drinking cups, thirteen large bronze yes
sells, amber necklaces, PIG splendidly Or
namented gold buttons-such is part of
this wonderful treasure -trove from the
tomb of Agamemnon. The artistic
merit of some of the things mentioned
is described as being of the first order
The seal rings in particular are the es,
pecial objects of DR.. Schliemann's ad-
miration.
After speaking of what was depicted
on number of seals that most impress
ed him, he adds, Everything is executed
with so much art that, when ! brought
to light these rings, I involuntarily ex-
claimed, The author of the Iliad and
the Odyssey can only have been edu-
Gated in a civilization which could pro-
duce such wonders. O1ly a poet who
had masterpieces of art like these con-
tinually before his eyes could compose
those divine poems.'" The thirteen
bronze vessels also receive special men,
ton from the doctor, and they perhaps
constitute the most precious part of his
wonderful find. These vessels, as he re-
minds the Times, were held in high es-
TEEN in the heroic age, and are frequent.
ly mentioned by Homer as prizes in the
games. Accounting for their presence in
the tomb, he says: 81 suppose that tc
each hero was given in the grave the
goblets and other objects which were
dear to him in his lifetime, having beer
given to him by his host as pledge O.
hospitality and friendship" The con
lecture is most likely correct. The
Greeks were highly accomplished.race
and in some respects probably have nev
er been excelled, but they did not know
enough to know that even as we brough
nothing into the world, SO we can tax,
nothing out of it. The Schliemann o
some century of the far, far future, tina
discovers the tomb of the Agamemnol
of to-day, will not be rewarded with yes
sells and goblets and kindred "prizes
In their places he will, perhaps, com
across short legend which the scholars
after putting their heads together, vii
decide to mean: "Shrouds have no pock
ets"
If there has been doubt in any min
in regard to the antiquity of the tom
which DIR. Schliemann claimed to be tn
last resting place of Agamemnon, th
discovery of these treasures must dispe
it. He calls attention on this head, I
$ two facts which he thinks, and wit
reason, are conclusive. The arrow
heads found in the tomb, thirty ight
number, are all of stone, while the lila
Seems to know only arrow heads {
bronze" The other fact is the entii
e absence of any vestige of either iron {
S glass or of any pottery made on the pc
8 ter's wheel. The tomb, and the wonder
g contained therein, may fairly be SUI
s posed to represent the time when Ag;
e memnon lived, or rather the time whe
a he died, and as such they deserve to
o embalmed in the amber of the currel
d poets verse, even as they were in that
= Homer. Mr. Stedman is to have poe
g in the February Atlantic founded upc
q telegram giving an account of D
: Curtius' success in bringing to light Il
d images of the old gods, and we look
e. see other of our bards here and aero
the water do justice to the treasures
e. Agamemnon's tomb.
From the Port Chester Journal