The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-12-04
PURSUIT OF ANC|ENIS
Notable Excavations are Made
in Ruins at Athens.
FAMOUS GABLE GROUPS
Made More Complete by Pro-
feSsor furlWangIer.
FAMOUS GABLE GROUPS

4ncontestably one Of the most import
ant events in the current year in the
world Of arr and archaeology is the ex-
eavation Of the well-known temple of
Aegina by Professor Furtwangler dur
ING the spring and summer. 1t mas long
beer felt that the excavations made in
ana around this temple in ISL which
brought 70 light the famous gaDie groups
long known and discussed under the name
OF the Aeginetan marbles, could not be
regarded as dednnitive. After some
slight work done by the Greek Archaeo-
logical Society in 1888. it was much
mooted who should undertake the final
eIca ration. Two considerations made in
most htting that this privilege finally
feI 70 Professor E'urtwangler-the general
consideration that it would be difficult
to ind another man who possesses such
comprehensive and minute knowledge
Of ali the remains of ancient Greece. and
the particular consideration that he il
the Director Of the museum in Munich
where the statutes found in 1911 are iodg-
ed, and has recently made from the lum-
ber-room of the museum certain lmpor-
tant addition to the two groups.
OF course il was his especial desire and
hope 10 find moro statutes and FRAGMENTS
which should bring tae two groups nearer
10 completion: but no one understood
better than DE that there was only one
way to secure this result, and this was
the thorough cleaning of the temple and
the area adjacent 10 IT, This is the mod
ern method Of excavation. The method of
Cockeroll and his associates was ike
fishing in turbid waters while Furtwan-
siers process was an application OF the
dras-net which nothing could escape y
striking example OF the thoroughness of
his process is that the fact that six heads
i've Of which may belong to the gable
groups although this. with becoming
prudence, is left undecided in the pro-
visional report w-lch has just appeared),
were found at the bottom Of a deep els
tern near tae east front of the temple.
into which the rain water from the roof
was conducted through an aperture in
the pavement of the esplandade in front
of the temple Before reaching the els
tern the water had to fall through a
rather spacious cave, in the rock floor of
which the cistcrn was cut IT is an in
teresting fact that the excavators Of 1911
had their quarters in this very cave,
which at that time had an opening to
the north subsequently, closed by accum-
uiation Of debris. Cockercll did not think
To let down Ins line under his own bed,
where Furtwauglers drag-net secured
the prize. Whatever may be the final adj
justment of the five heads Just mentioned
II is practically certain that the two other
heads found in the propyIon OF the tenn
pie precinct belonged. one TO the east
gable and the other to the west No one
can doubt that Professor FurtwanEIer /
would like 10 be able TO take off some
Of the heads of the figures in the Munich |
Museum that were put upon them by |
the sSillfu hand of the Thorwalsden. and |
pat in their place the heads just discov- |
cred. Atheniau gossip has in that an /
expression Of this most natural desire /
was met 10y the Greek authorities by a /
request for the return of the groups now /
IN Munich
Hut 70 return 20 the excavations them |
selves which I visited two days ago. /
They have ons great charm, viz. that they /
performed a limited task which it was /
possible after few months 10 present /
- the world a IS finished piece of work /
sides the completely cleared floor of /
The temple. which makes the interior ar. I
ranE,ment palmer than before. the foun- /
dafion abs been cleared down to bedrock I
dayion has been cleared down to bedrock /
The propylon. the great altar. and sew
eral adjacent buildings have been ex- /
eavlted with a care which not only
brings It's reward. but has yielded a con- /
siderable quantity Of small finds from
Allceuacan times down well into the
nfth century. Into the details of any
of these matters ] viii not so; but there
IS oae rlost interesting result of the worl
which can not be passed by The temple
BIAS. 10 the surprise of the world. changed
lis name. The world has for more than
hatf century regarded nothing as more
certain than that this temple was the
Temple ~ Athena. and has sometimes
smiled at the temperance now and then
of The name Temple of Jupiter Panhel-
heieniUs in certain books which there
hy took on an antiquated appearance
,, leaked out long ago that this name
went our into an the world in consequence
q very sallow fraud pracuced by
some of the younger and fris5y mem
se-s ar of the excavation party of 1911
ouon some of the mare venerable mem
aers. Nhu cut words on a block OF the cor
nice 81 the cella-an impossible place
iar Oh, name OF a temple 10 be actually
rat. 90 say nothing OF the fact that the
sitting WAS done in a ridiculously superb
c.ai manner and with no expectation OF
Nrr being discovered. But il surely
had deceived the venerable authorities
and had passed along through Europe
ihe perpetrators OF it had not the courage
60 expose il but. FOR the LAST 6fty years
lt has generally been understood The
story has been told by Ross in his Ar
,h o,ogische Aufsatze. H. b. Al n. and
elsewhere.
All books published In late years have
81 Jed the temple the Temple III Athena.
SCt only in Athena the central figure
Be both bahlc groups. was seen Intel
block bearing an ancient Inscription Then
another stone Was found with 81 similar
Inscription. "a little farther or. ROSS
says it is true that voices we're from
time 70 time raised against the validity
Of these grounds for the na-ae. Prof.
Paul Wolters. ia the MttheHurgen des
Doutschen ArChaeologishtn Iusututs ia
Athen 1859 p. Ia n pointed out the
fact chat Ross he'd been ovor-zcalous in
wing that the nrst OF these inscrip-
lions was found only quarter If an hour
frcm the temple. 1t is. I'm fact, over an
hong away. and the second one. being
3 -te near the city. IS over az our ana
hlf distant from the temple quite
: zen found In the sea near the city.
III u have been recoenized IS
lv impossible that 81 many
heavy stones should DE carried 50
d their prorenance ought 70 have
sought elsewhere than 20 the iclr-