New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-24
RECENT GREEK EXCAVATIONS.
THE DISCOVERIES AT ATHENS AND OLYMPIA Di,
sCRIBED by THOMAS DAVIDSON.

THE DISCOVERIES AT ATHENS AND OLYMPIA DE-
sCRIBED by THOMAS DAVIDSON
The meeting of the American Geographical
Society last evening" at Chckerng Hall, was addressed
by Thomas Davidson, NJ A, of Boston, whose subject
was The recent Excavations and Discoveries at
Athens and Olympia" The speaker prefaced his adj
dress with o few remarks upob the importance OF
archaeological study He thought that schools OF crock
archaeology should be established at Athens and Cyprus,
where men who loved the subject might study and
work together to clear up many questions concerning
which there now doubt The lecturer paid tribute to
General ID Cesnola and his work. saying that thanks
to him, New-York has now the most valuable
archaeological collection the world" But
while rejoicing what has already Deeh
pshed the speaker sepored the fact That thero
was so much work to be and so few to do 1t.
Crete and sards were mentioned two cities still un-
buried which promised TO yield great results 10 e4-
plore2s In the knowledge OF past times aud arts
Owing 10 the great extent covered by the subject OF
his lecture Mr. Davidson said that he should only be abe
to give few words Athens, aud devote the remain
der OF his lecture to Olympia which was The more inter-
estng OF the places from the fact that the discov
cries there recent and therefore less known
series o, seroophcon views was then shown. which
petured the Acropolis and its surroundings both in
ruins and as resorsd All thiswas passed over hastily,
and the lecturer then took up Olympia The early his
tory Of Olympia and the oympian games s
was told IN an interesting manner, a ihe
various ruins and RESERVATIONS with TIER sculptured
decorations plan Of the vast plain was nrsi SHOWN
uoou which tho buildings their proper rea-
tious the amphthedtre the temple OF Jupiter IN which
was the great Phidias; the temple OF Iiera
the house in which Phdias worked. and many
oilers Some OF the structures OF Olympia
were severely criticised as showing IN, Their
rus the utmost careessness In construction AMI crud-
ity OF knowledge on the part OF their builders one OF
lie temples had IN its pOrco forty columns all after
the same style. but no two OF the same diameter or
with capitals exactly alike. The scupltuted figures
I'm the pedirneuts Of the templcs-which were
executed before the time Of Pmdias, were char,
acterized a. some Of the worst specimens OF
art work the speaker had ever
Coming down TO later works. however, there
was much to admire-almOst to worship. The
very spot where Pausanius had seen
II 700 wears before This statue the speaker consd
cred one of the most exquisite works in the world. The
Oynpan Investigations we're begun IN 1868, aud the
German Government given credit for the great IN
terrst manifested In the furtherance or the WORK
Claiming nothing of what recovered the Germans
bore the expen sc only asking that they might FIRST pub
Iish aud photograph the discoveries MADE Inc Greek
Government cakes charge of every thing recovered FROM
the ruins, and cOntemplates erecting a museum at
Olympia for their preservation.