New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-23
A GREEK CITY UNEARTHED.
PR1ENE FOUND BY GERMAN ARCHEOLO-
GIsTs ALMOST AS WELL PRESERVED.
AS POMPEII-IMFORTAN LIGHT
ON DISPUTED QUESTIONS.

ON DISPUTED QUESTIONS.
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir Private letters Just received In this coun-
try bring news OF most important discoveries
made by the German archaologists excavating
on the site Of the ancient Prene In Asia Minor
opposite the Island OF Samos Years ago an
English expedition excavated and studied the
Temple Of Athena. the chief sanctuary Of the
city, built at the order Of Alexander the Great.
The work was then abandoned, and meanwhile
the ruins have been thoroughly exploited
and wasted by the neighborng population that
nothing Is left but confused heap Of stones.
II 1870 the work Of exploring the ruins Of the
city was resumed this time by Germans under
the direction Of the Berlin Museum and at the
expense of the Prussian Government. The ar
! chltectural work has been placed In the hands
or the young architect Wilhelm Wilberg. a
former student and assistant OF DR.. D0rfeld.
The work has now proceeded far enough to
determine its extraordinary Importance. A
buried city preserved almost in the complete
ness OF Pompeii is coming to light Up to this
time no Greek city has been excavated that
gives any clew TO the arrangement of streets
public squares, monuments and public buildings.
or to the architecture of any considerable num-
Der OF private houses. Here find q city. to
be sure, Of the Heenistic period. laid out with
great regularity, with streets crossing at right
angles with shops coonnades, market places,
theatres a council-house and great num-
Der OF private houses preserved in such COM
peteness to display their general architecture,
| distribution Of space use. decoration and equip
ment
| South Of the great square Of the temple al
| luded to above. and closely adjoining It, has
! been found the great market place or agora Of
! the city, which was surrounded all four
sides by broad colonnades, Of which that on the
north side was peculiarly noble and stately.
| Adjoining this at one end, and opening upon
| one corner Of the agora, was found q small
| square building constructed somewhat like a
| theatre, which was evidently the council-house
Of the city 1t is marvellously we'll preserved.
| Sixteen rows Of seats are still In place The
walls, doors, windows platforms, etc, are all
preserved. One Of the side walls ends in a mas
sve arch, which, as being demonstrably a work
Of the fourth century, B. c., must rank as the
earliest or at least one Of the few earliest spec
mems Of the arch In Greek construction. The
whole building represents something entirely
unique In the relics Of Greek architecture
There has also been found a small theatre In
which the stage structure. the skene. IL still
standing entire Three doors open from 1t upon
the orchestra, and the proscen!urn. with Its row
OF columns and the architrave above them, re-
| mains intact No Greek theatre as yet discov
cred is so perfectly preserved as this. and ir
the future discussions OF the stage question
this structure is likely to assume leading
| place. BENJAMIN IDE WHEELER.
Ithaca, n. Y. Nov. 10. 1897.