The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-01-04
Old Greek Treasures.


As may be expected, the late wonder
full discoveries of DR.. Schliemann at
Mycen@ have excited intense interest
among antiquarians and classical schol-
ars. Mycene was one of the capitals of
ancient Argolis, and was situated near
the eastern coast of Greece. Eighty
Myceneans died with that little band
of Spartans at Thermoplye 4S0 B. G.
The Argives destroyed it in 466 B. G.,
and when Thucydides visited it CEN
tury later he found it in ruins. But
parts of the walls and the tombs re-
mained, and it is in the latter that the
German savant has just brought to light
the treasures. DR. Schliemann visited
the scenes of the present exploration in
1868, and early in the present autumn
he began the work which has just cul-
minated in the present valuable dis
coyery.
In the great circle of parallel slabs be-
meath the archaic sepuchral stones,
which DIR. Schliemann has shown to be
the tomb of Agamemnon and his COM
panions, he has discovered immense
tombs containing jewelry. He found
in one portion of tomb human bones,
male and female; plate, jewelry of pure
archaic gold weighing five kilogrammes,
two scepters with heads of crystal, and
chased objects in silver and bronze, and
great quantity of woman's jewelry in
gold, handsomely worked. Immediately
after commencing excavations at an ad-
joining tomb large head of cow in
silver, with immense horns of pure gold,
was found. A large girdle of gold, five
gold vases, and immense golden buttons
were also found. All these objects were
marvelously worked. Among other dis
coveries were nine silver vases and nu-
merous swordsof bronze, but no traces of
ironwork. The following articles of pure
gold and splendid ornamentation were
also found: A helmet, two diadems, a
woman's large comb, large breastplate,
three masks, six vases, two bracelets, two
rings, three brooches, an immense mass
of buttons, leaves, and other articles,
three large gilders, silver vase, stag
cast in lead, with mass of swords, dag
gers, axes, warriors knives, all of bronze,
with twenty-five fint-headed arrows.
The complete excavations will reveal
curiosites enough, as the Doctor says, to
fill large museum. There is little
doubt about the genuineness of the rel.
les, and the age to which they belong.
A high classical authority of the Jesuit
order in New York believes that Schlie-
mann has made a more valuable discov-
cry than that which he announced some
years ago in ancient Troy. The poet
Bryant is of the opinion that, if the dis
covery is true, it will effect complete
restoration of the Homeric Heroes. You
know that some very learned men had
come to look upon the whole story of the
siege of Troy as fabulous. If DR.. Schlie-
mann can prove that the tomb he found
is that of Agamemnon he restores to his
tory all the characters of Homer-at least
those of the Iliad.'"
In this same line of ancient explora-
tioD the operations Of Di Cesnola have
been of immense value. He says that
his diggings began in 1866 in an amatuer
way, but that he became infatuated
with his work, and like man running
down hill, could not stop had he so de-
sired. He commenced his explorations
near Larnaca, a modern town, built
upon the metropolis of the ancient city
of Kittum. Here at different periods
from 1866 to 1876, he discovered more
than two thousand tombs, most of which
dated from 40 B. G.. to tie beginning of
the Christian era. He also identified
the site of two temples, one Greek and
one Phenician. In the ruins of these
temples he discovered some of his
choicest specimens. He next visited
Dali, where he opened some 10000 tombs,
which yielded thousands of terra Gotta
vases. From Dali he went to dig in
Gologos; there he discovered its burial
place and two temples. What he found
here he considers among themost impor-
tant of his discoveries. This is the COL
lection just purchased by the Metro
politau Museum. 1t is the eopinion of Gen
eral di Cesnola that no other place in
the world can present, as does Cyprus,
such an agglomeratiot of all the differ
ent styles of art which have now for
many centuries ceased to exist. General
di Cesnola says in conclusion that the re-
suit of his last three years excavations
surpassed that of the preceding ones,
and he thinks that the discovery of
Curium, with the Identification of the
great temple of Apollo Hylates, and the
discovery of the treasure chambers of
another unknown temple, may serve, in
the hands of scholars, to reconstruct the
ancient history of the island, and to
throw no. small light on that of the
world. Cesnola's collection, as is known.
was recently purchased for the museum
in New York. A tempting bid was
made for it in London. 1t is a matter of
congratulation that this unequaled an
tiquarian material is to remain in this
country.
The Proposed Territory of Huron.
The proposed new territory of Huron
contains about seventy thousand square
miles and ten thousand inhabitants. 1t
is the northern half of Dakota, and is
said to embrace one of the best farming
regions in the United States. The bill
to create the territory has already passed
the Senate, and will probably pass the
House, since there seems to be no serious
objection to it. There being 20 direct
means of communication between the
northern and southern portions of Da-
kota, people in the former section hav-