The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-11-14
SchlIemann's Latest Discoveries
What He Has Cnearthed at Ithaca.

DR.. Schlremann, in a letter to the
London Z INES, gives interesting infor-
nation about his recent discoveries in
the Iouian island of Ithaca. On the
plateau which extends towards the
western shore of the southeast part of
the island he has found, in digging,
ninety houses of Cyclopean construc-
ton belonging to the Homeric city of
Ithaca. On Mount Aetos he found,
among other remains, a triangular plat
form, with two large cisterns and
small one, and remnants of six or seven
small Cyclopean buildings, which were
separate houses, or, more probably,
chambers of tie Cyclopean mansion
commonly called the Castle of Ulysses.
He says:
There can hardly be any doubt
that in the same manner as the aero
polls of Athens was widened by Cimon,
who included a large portion of its
northeastern slope, and filled mp the
lower space with stones and debris, the
level summit of Mount Aetos was ex-
tended to the north and south west by
huge Cyclopeau wall still existing,
the space between the top and wall be-
ing filled up with stones and debris.
Thus the summit forms quadrangle
lar, even platform, 1G6 feet s inches
long by 1874 feet inches broad, so
| that there was on the summit ample
room for large mansion and court
yard. To the north and south of the
circuit wall are towers of Cyclopean
masonry, from each of which a huge
| l.
But at a certain distance these two
walls begin to form curve, and ulti-
mately joined together. Two more
Cylopean walls run down from the
top-tbe one in an easterly, the other
IN a soutbeasterly direction, and join
the curve formed by the two
first-named walls. Lastly, have to
! mention q huge circuit wsll about fifty
feet below the upper circuit wall. This
wall has fallen on the west side, but
is in a marvellous state Of preservation
on the other sides. To increase the
strength of the place the foot of the
rock has been cut away so as to form
perpendicular rock wall twenty feet
high. In the walls are recognizable
three gates. Between all those Cyclic
pean walls once stood city which may
have contained 1000 houses. either cut
out in the rock or built of Cyclopean
masonry. OF 100 of these houses l
have been able TO fad, the ruins were
more or less well preserved. 1 meas
ured twelve Of them and found them
between 81 and GO feet long and 10 to
| 90 feet broad The usual size of the
rudely cut stones is 8 feet in length,
4 feet s inches in breadth and feet in
thickness. The size of these etones
far exceeds that of the stones in the
Cyclopean houses | discovered at
MyceDa and TIryns. Some of the
houses consisted of only one room
others had four or even six chambers.
The Odyssey mentions a grOtto Of
the nympbs, in which Ulysses, assisted
by Minerva, hid his treasures. DIR.
Schliemann thinks he bas discovered
this place in stslsctite grotto near the
little port of Dexia. lie found no
treasure, but says:
1.-The grotto is very spacious, and it
exactly answers the description of
Homer, who says that it has two en-
trAnces-one on Its north side for men
and one on its south side for the i'm
mortal gods, for DO man can enter by
the divine door. all this is true; but
by the entrance for the gods be means
the artiiicially cut hole in the vault Of
the grottO, which must have served as
q chimney 10 lead of the smoke Of the
sacriicial fires. From this chimney 70
the bottom Of the grotto is fifty-six
feet, and OF course no man can enter
by this way. But for ages the pro-
prietors Of the field seem to have
utilized this chimney to get rid Of some
Of the stones which abound here, for
the grotto is filed FIVE feet and six feet
deep with small stonea. From the
vault of the grotto hang innumerable
stalaIities, which have given TO Homer
the idea OF the stone 9rns and am
phoras, and the stone frames and looms
on which the nymphs wezye purple
colored nantes and seIls.
s.SeAF The southeast extremity Of