Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-27
(inssic Bellies I'm Afhpne.

Correspondence OF the New ork Evening fosi.l
The attractions IN Athens are already 50
numerous. and antiquities are 50 common,
that little interest j. ielt in the work OF dis
covering more. Take. for instance, the
ancient cemetery in the suburbs. Opera
lions are slowly proceeding there, and
every week something Of yalne Is eXhumed.
As this was an immense battle-ground. ana
and as the greatest OF The great were
here inferred. il stands 10 reason that
the ground is full OF unsolyed N.Y.
terics. The monuments eXhumed are
magrificen, specimens OF the highest
type OF Grecian art-statues. bas-re-
liefs, urns, eWers, pottery jars, and
sarcophaei. ON one sarcophagus OF the
purest Pcntellic marble | translated 1.-the
neither q AIcibiades." The natural infer
encc would be that the famous Alcibiadc'
was meant. Another splendid tablet bore
the simple word Pythagoras." The in
scriptions are all as PLAIN ~ when first en-
..ravcd. Here is leglcss marble bull lying
on his back, carved out OF single colossal
block Of marble. There was beautiful
group in bls-rcld, representing dying
wife cia.ping the hand OF her huS.
band, while shades lowered behind
her about to convey her spirit TO
lis eternal abode. A great deal has
been done In the way OF excavation. rcycal-
iAg vaults, walls. aqueducts, monuments,
and funeral embicms. But there ore plenty
Of other places IN which there are unm,+-
taxable evidences Of tombs, whore the soil
has been und,StGrbed. Those things
which have been uncarthed lie around
promiscuously. This may be we'll enough
IN general, Tor the student Is interested IN
seeing things Just as they were discovered;
hut q, least the whole cemetery should be
properly inclosed and guarded, while the
monuments themselves should be protected
from accident and the effects OK the weather.
So there are plenty Of the most valuable
relics, including actual works OF Phidias,
stored i'm the venerable Theseium. The
Archaeological Society, which has charge
Of the remains and the unworked ground,
is not blind to the needs in these respects,
hut is crippled in it, usefulness by want o!
funds. 1t does, indeed, attempt 70 protect
the ruins by means Of guards and guard
houses. but the protection is not adequate.
MOI all the antiquities are thus inadequate
" projected. Through the researches and
wealth Of DIR. Schlieuann there is in
Athens o splendid marble pile known as
! the Polytechnic, where 4 vast amount OF
| Grecian and Leyantine relics are stored.
This building Is equipped with the best Of
appointments. The cases are made OF olive
wood and superb pate-glass. The floors are
laid in mo>aics, ard the architecture OF
! the whole Is IN the seyereSt type OF the
most ehaste Greek art. making II III TEN.
pie for the reception OF treasures OF the
past. The Mycenc collection is the chief
glory Of the Polytechnic. was amazed
at the extent OF this, There are coins,
arms, antique iewelry, pottery, vases.
statuettes. and household utensils IN iniinite
variety. The Jars and weapons o! cop
per. hardened by some lost art, are
green with the rust Of centuries. The
fragments OF jars have been put TO-
gether with marvellous nicely. the W.
cant spaces being filed with plaster
OF Paris. The painting OF the pieces
seems a. perfect and fresh as when it was
first applied, over 1000 ySrs ago. sup
pose the intrinsic value ~ the gold foil.
coins, and drinking.seryice, simply as
crude material, would reach many thou
sands OF dollars. The principal feature o.
the collection Is a central ease m which are
two skeletons. surrounded by arms. pot
terry. and other treasures, such as are COM
monty put in tombs. The bones Of one
skeleton have been arranged in their relI-
tive position. and all the principal parts are
present, though some Of them are mach
worn away. All the lower face-bones are
missing, and the skull has been doctored
with cement to protect It. The bones OF
the other body are so far cTumbled that no
attempt has been made 10 fix them in place.
They lie in a little pile.
Perhaps the most costly residence build.
ing IN Athens is the cottage" OF DR..
Schliemann-as It's proprietor is wont to
term il. II Is an imposing square mansion
OF the best Pentellic marble. crowned with
marble statues Of the whole Olympic host in
groups OF two and three. The front has 2
deep pOrticO set into each story. while the
plain molding between the two stories
contains in large Greek letters the inscrip-
ton, "llion Melaihron." The interior
consists Of lofty. spacious rooms,
white marble floors, and ceilings frescoed
richly with illustrations from the ancient
Grecisn mythology. Part OF the collection
Ct antiquities eXbumed al Troy is within
this marble cottage" the remainder beng
in Germany. After trying very hard TO
persuade The United Sta.es 10 take these
magnificent relics Is nearly free gift, the
doctor has had to divide them up between
his ownhOme and his native country. DR..
schlemann, his wife, and his two children.
Agamemnon and Andromache, are now
summering in Germany.