The Savannah morning news., 1901-06-02

discoveries we're made in the interior of
Crete, and from them it would appear
that this STAND was the birthplace and
cradle OF Greek civilizat ton and culture
m the ancient Greek mythology the god
Zeus was the son of Kronos, King of
Heaven, and was born in a cave on high
hill of the Island of Crete. Because of
a prophecy that the child should cast him
from his throne, Kronos sought to Kill his
son, and 1t was because of this that the
mother Rhea fled to Crete, and there
reared the child, before whom Kronos
was forced to bow. The cave came to be
regarded as a holy place by the Greeks.
Minos the Lawgiver of Greece, was the
son Of Zeus, and every nine years he
repaired to the cave there to receive the
inspired laws for the guidance of the land.
The recent discoveries would seem to
prove that the legendary Zeus and Minos
Of the ancients rested on a basis of real
fly and that there was historic side to
them.
For many years Greek officials, and
wild hillmen intolerant of strangers, have
prevented any explorations of the inner
part of Crete, and it is only recently,
therefore, that there has been any arch
geological research there. Reports reach
ed the outer world that shepherds, tend
ing their focks in the vicinity Of the rocky
hill known as Dicta, had found strange
objects of bronze and other metals near
the mouth of a. cavern. Some of these
objects found their way IL. time to the
hands of archaeologists and so manifestly
were they votive offerings of very ancient
design that they indicated plainly To-
cality rich in interest. When Crete was
liberated the interior of the Island was
open TO visitors and the British govern
ment, securing a concession to explore
this cave put MIR. Hogarth in charge OF
the operations. At the opening of the
year ne established a camp of Cretan
worlmen at the foot OF the hill and be-
gan the work. Soon a zigzag mule track
was made up the 500-foot slope of rock
which led to the entrance of the cave.
II took four days to blast away the i'm
mense boulders that blocked the entrance
TO the cave. exposing the black mouth of
the great orifice, which Mr. Hogarth de-
soflbes as follows:
The great cave is double. There is
SHALLOW hall to the right and an abys-
nal chasm to the left, the last not UNI
worthy Of a place among the famous
limestone grottoes of the world. The
rock al first breaks down sheer but as
Inc light grows dim, takes an outward
slope and so falls steeply for 200 feet into
IN inky darkness. An icy pool spreads
rom your feet about the bases of fan
'asuc stalactite columns on into the heart
OF the hill. Hall opens from. hall with
ifetted roofs and block, unruffled floor.
Fit scene enough for Minos mysterious
0o,oquy with his father Zeus'
way having been cleared into the in
l9Hor search for objects began in the
camp mould which lay at the back Of the
CuamUer from five to seven feet deep. In
Ne upper layers many unburned offerings
were found which had been made in all
peHois from about the year 500 before our
ga back TO the dim antiquity contem-
!oiary With the twelfth dynasty of Egyp-
van iharoahs, 1900 b. c. The objects
| were mainly In bronze knife of Ny
soIaean curve, whose handle ends in
human head of regular, sharpe profile
vas one Of the noteworthy discoveries.
s'e We're also found many ivory orna-
~eHs irom disintegrated sword hits, and
we topmost strata swords, knives,
bracelets, etc, OF iron, with remains
" me earliest Hellenic pottery. These lay
NIN,s about a rude block built OF stones
s s.u three feet high, no doubt an altar for
-.uI offerings. Two weeks were con-
..nv' ln clearing the upper chamber. The
M '' cavern below was left to the last.
s,5 wed the most prolific in treasures,
was likewise the most awe-inspir-
h ,'eN lis size and depth. or the work
H. %" great subterranean grotto Mr..
N'safia says:
, No men and women clambered down
ss,N'in ly 70 their final task in the damp
"A GRADUALLY, however. they descend
H.. 'Nei aud lowfr into darkness until
rr ieachcd the margin of the under
p,a POOL aud began to grope In the
W ~. ''' INC objects. Here was found he
s, .aat battle AK. IN almost pure cop
" 7 faditional weapon With which
f,,. '.'i out TO war. Rings, pins. blades,
# r,i a'Lhet gems, engraved with ami
la. .-lits' We're found by the score.
'Nanes gave a startling ana most