New-York tribune., 1878-11-22
THE LECTURE.

In nv previous lectures l gave you faith
full sketch of the legendary history OF Cyprus sucn as
after many years OF researches, was abe TO gather
from ancient writers, who accidentally alluded 10 the
island in their works. described the gradual develop
ment Of CypIiote sculpture, from prehistoric times
down to about the fifth century before our era We nave
seen how in prehistoric times the arts of Cyprus par
took chiefly, II not exclusively, Of that mixture OF
Egyptian and Assyrian which constituted Ph@nicm
art; but later Oh, how this characteristic gave way
10 that Of Archaic early Greek style In historical
times as we shall this evening, the Asiatlc ana
EGYPTIAN influences almost disappear, and are replaced
by the influence of Greece the arts of Cyprus become
thoroughly Hellenlzed We shall the steady pro-
gress OF the Cyprote artists toward pure Greek art in
spite OF the long struggle which Cyprus had to sustain
for more than a century against Persia
The Empire of Persia, which arose on the ruins of
Assyra possessed, in common with the fallen kngdom
most Unsuitable desire to make conquests in Europe
and, in particular to reduce the rising Greek States
Besides the desire for extension OF territory and
military glory, the PeTsans do not appear TO have had
any very pronounced qualities. In the great expedl-
tion which Persia undertook against Egypt in the year
b25 b. c., clearly where the great rvary lay
and, strange it must seem, find the Cyprotes on
the side OF the new rising power and against Egypt
No doubt the temptations which Persia to hesev
eral kings of Cyprus were great and had great Weight
with tbem since the thing Of which Persia that time
stood in need this very moral power, which
both Phpnca and Cy pus could furnish So far as we
know the conditions then agreed upon were these: that
Cyprus should retain its kings be governed by It's
own laws and that satrap should enter the
island On the other hand the Cyprotes undertook 10
pay large tribute. and take military service IN
case OF need Qf it against their own INTEREST,"
Between 600 and 500 Il. c.. Greece had become rich
through her commerce and the great announcement
given 10y the petty kings tyrans for public works OF
all kinds and this condition of prosperity naturally at
tracted the Persian cupdy Not to be able to acquire
possession Of Greece annoying enough but When
the tyrants were all deposed, after another, and
Greece divided into number of republics, the despOtic
rulers Persia to have felt that the time had come
al last when and conquest could no longer be de-
layed Thus there begun about the year 500 b. C. an
epoch for which there perhaps no comparison in all
hisory-an epoch which signalized by such battles
as those of and Salamis, not to mention many
others familiar to you by name but in the highest
degree important at the time. 1t was an epoch OF
freedom of West The question then solved for
the first time whether republics could exist and be
were to be free, not only in their actions
aud in their lives but in their thoughts also Greece,
as we know, succeeded triumphantly, and from that
ay TO ths the recollection of what Greece achieved has
never been lost sight of by thinking men, II you con-
Greece IN Egypt and Assyria you consider how
the gited individuals Of those nations had practically
calm reason. they were themselves guided mainly by
custom and tradition; Il you oGnslder that compared req
with all this IL the Greeks who first developed the
faculty Of calm, independent reason and established Tor
all subsequent times It's right rne-the tnougnls ana
the great service which the Greeks nave hus rem
dered to mankind.
CHARACTERISTICS OF GREEK ART.
need not tell yOu that 1t is in their art you will see
everywhere the controlling influence OF this reasoning
faculty which kept genius from running into excess,
and compelled it to observe in all that it attempted the
necessity OF producing only such works as appealed 10
calm, thoughtful Judgment.