New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-09
AMERICAN WORK AT CORINTH.
THE SCHOOL AT ATHENS NEEDS FUNDS TO
CONTINUE ITS IMPORTANT
EXCAVATIONS

Three years ago the Ephor- General Of ANTIQUITIES
~. Greece granted to the American School at Athens
the privilege Of conducting excavations on the site
VI ancient Corinth The director OF the school,
PROFESSOR Richardson. and his colleague for the
year PROFESSOR Benjamin Ide Wheeler OF Cornell
University, agreed that no available site in the
kingdom promised more important results from ex-
caNauons than this city. which IN all Greece was
second only TO Athens in magnifcence wealth and
population, and had great historic interest They
Were well aware OF the magnitude OF the enter
prise; not only was the extent OF the ancient city
vast. but the ruins also covered by LAYER Of
soil. which In many places Is from fifteen TO twenty
feet in thickness
The work in 1886 OF a tentative nature The
topography Of Corinth absolutely unknown ex-
cept for the great landmarks OF the two harbors
Acrocorinthus and the Isthmian Sanctuary in the
suburbs. Even the old ruined temple had no GER
tain name. Twenty trial trenches were dug and
the ancient Greek theatre was discovered with por-
lions OF Roman theatre resting upon g. and in
dications OF the proximity OF the agora.
In 1897 the work of excavation interrupted by
the war between Greece and Turkey.
In 1898 the excavations were continued with about
one hundred and twenty men. and were facilitated
by the use OF track and twelve which the
French had used In their work at Delphi, and had
now kindly rented TO the Americans The main
result OF these excavations the discovery Of
the fountain Pirene. which was the centre OF the
HE OF the ancient city. In tentative digging
the old temple. which is identified as the temple
OF Apofo by its relations 20 Prene two OF its fallen
monolithic columns were found. Five statues were
discovered. but unfortunately they are headess.
The number OF inscriptions was not large but In
cludes the Intel Of the Synagogue OF the Jews
probably the very synagogue in which st. Paul
taught when he came first TO Corinth. Many
smaller objects OF interest discovered all
ages Of the city's life.
The American School at Athens has no money
with which 10, continue the excavations at Corinth
in the spring Of 1899 The Managing Committee
would regret every account to stop the work at
the present point The stage OF experiment is
passed With the temple of Apollo the theatre
and Pirene identified. further excavation in that
region need be al random. The track and are
now at Corinth ready for use The discovery Of the
two fallen columns OF the temple OF Apollo
rants the hope of further discoveries in the vicinity
That so much has been accomplished so great q
field with such limited means testifes in the opin-
ion OF those who are best qualified to judge. TO the
learning and Judgment OF the director, and entities
him TO the gratitude and support Of the friends OF
The fountain Of Pirene must be laid quite bare,
and the aqueduct which still carries the water
supply for the little hamlet must be made entirely
for these excavations About half this sum has
institute Colonel John ay e gave so@ Dr
Charles Peabody $500. W. W. Law $3.50 and others
The sum OF $500 would suffice for the work i'm
mediate!y about Prene and the temple OF Apollo.
the director for the determination OF the agora and
for following up the broad well-paved street which
has been found near the theatre all friends of the
school and OF archaeological studies would be glad.
These excavations do not simply furnish fresh ma
teria for study 10 the students OF the school; they
also throw much desired light on old archaeological
problems.
Managing Committee OF the school, g. NJ Lane,
No. A Safest. Boston. Thomas Day Sey-
mour, chairman Yale University. New-Haven'
Conn.