New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-23
TWO TOMBS IN STAMBOUL.
FROM ALEXANDER TO TIE CONQUEROR OF
THE EASTERN EMPIRE.

+A'@'E-h''+'A|'F'N
THE EASTERN EMPIRE.
Constantinople sept. 25.-Od Byzanium. low the
seralo Point Of Contaninoplc IS an Interesting bit
~ the world. From the Ifgene Mosque 10 the Del
phian serpent, ono passes through phases OF
nfc and experiences so many sensations that he
feels himself consciously advancing IN civilization.
To the student Of contrasts there is satisfaction In two
famous tombs here which. with more than seventeen
hundred years between them, sin challenge compar-
ison for themselves and the Civilizations they repre-
sent.
In the museum, not far from the Sublime
Porte rests the so-callcd Sarcophagus Of Alexander.
discovered last year at sidon. Perfectly preserved
archacologtss incline 10 believe 1t work executed
by command OF alexander the Great for the body "
friend. The skull found within II IS that Of young
man the angle Of the jaw still obt,ise. the teeth al
most perfect Whoever he his tomb worthy the
nobcs in Colossal perhaps feet long BY SIX
high IT dwarfs other fine specimens In the hall. Its
roof Is sharply pitched. the marble chiseled into
scales. Around the edges set repeated heads Of
the god. his face surrounded by the sacred rays
and between each two heads Is the head Of ram.
When the book. soon TO be published at Paris. de
scribes the treasures found sldon may know
the meaning OF these symbols AT each OF the four
corners is superb lion couchant. his head and fore
paws reaching over the side one pedment presents
a battle, the other hunting scene Near the top OF
the sarcOphagus Is broad band OF vino leaves and
grapes. Below TINS Is ronpn'M'n 'IftA hnru'l,
and or three lines ~ finely cut mOuldngS. SIN
below tho superb high rclofs Of the sides and
ends. These. as on The pcdiments, are battle and
hunting scene. The Greeks and Iersians dis
tinguishcd by features. weapons, and costume. In
battle the dead and wounded lie under tho feet Of
horses and men. each with real individuality that
10 awful. wounded horse. Just sinking to earth.
lifts his head with plil. Wild glare Of terror The
men. mounted and on foot, fight with passion that
quickcns the breath of the euzcr The head Of ON"
warrior IS identical In feature and expression with
that secn on the coins Of Alexander.
ia the hunting scene mounted men with dogs are
courslng deer and fighting Hons. one huge lion has
lcaped full at the breast of noble horse. and torn
away great piece OF fosh, but dog has set his Jaws
upon the Hons hind leg. The strength and Nigor OF
these figures cannot De described; but the unique,
crovning glory ~ the whole l. color. We have d.,
cursed all sides Of Did the Greeks paint their
,tntucs 2" and II has seemed dc'ecration -
fancy color against the pnrc marble. But no dcvotee
81 The Rouai itself could look ~ the sarcopha
gus Of Alexander deny the beauty Of painted mar
bic. The color f. understandable II j. unknown 10
an age Of anauc dyG.. md only suggests the days al
italian art TO that the vine leaves are In violet
and faint yellow. that the garments and weapons Of
the and the trapp.ng5 OF the horses show blue
and and green their delicate tins, Is worse
than useless FOR IL may suggest barbarOus Insult 10
the marble I;ut see the fact and be convinced.
AWAY beyond the other side OF the lIippOdrOmc Is
the tomb Of MahmOud the Conqucicr. who took Con
stantlnop!c In I453 lie Hes with nine Of his house
hold in circular coined room, whose eight long win
dows let in Il flood OF vivid eastern Hight. The floor
OF this death chamber Is covered with fine india
matting and precious rugs. protected from profanc
feet by huge hcelless slippers furnished at The door
Below the dome is Il broad fIieze Of fine arnbesqucs
in green. from the top Of the dome hangs an
enormous crystal chandelier gift Of Queen Victoria to
the sublime Porte. On either side the door Is IL large
gilt French clock given by the first Napoleon. Strange
trophies these for Malmoud's tomb. ON the walls
hang Il priceless green prayer from Mecca framed
printed texts from the Koran, and copy of that
sacred book written cloh In letters fine as to
require glass for their reading. The Koran Is every
where. Half dozen low stands, made Of Two crossed
pieces Of wood, completely ircrustcd with moherot
pearl. hold each its volume wrapped In rcd one OF
these is cxquisiply Illuminated manuscript said
to have belonged TO Ilaroun al Rasclid. Boxes OF
silver pearl stand all along the wall each with
It's precious book. all this Is settling for the
nine sarcophagi. Mamoud's, the largest Is opposite
the door. OF conventional shape The material Is
wholly hidden by a ught-httlng Of black velvet
magnaccntly embroidered I'm solid silver arabcsqu''
AL the head Of the s;rcophags Is common red feH'
such as any common hana might wear, but 1t Is
adorned by 4 feather and "A large ana brilliant damon"
TO the left OF This saicOphags IS a smaller rue
bearing small unadorIcd fcz aud 10 the right eight
more without the icz-thc tOmbs Of women OF the
Conqucrors hascm. These have. besides the NeNet
cover, from three 10 eight fine cashmere scars
such rich nuhs giidlcs. They are iolded
in narrow bands and laid close together near the head
OF Tie sarc pla-l Whether the idea IS pure orila
mcnt something Of dc. per meaning the pretty boy
in atcndanc, Coo. not know
This fantastic glimpse into the Arabian Nish's Is
the highest tribuic modern Turkey could pay her
greatest hero. ON comparing the tomb OF Alexander
with base. pucrilc resting place of Mshmoud 'he
Eastern Question seems already solved. Whatever
is fate in ASIA Europe cannot much longer tolerate
civilization whose Ideals are expressed In art 80 utterly
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