Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-02
NEW ETRUSCAN FINDS
ANCIENT PoPULoNIA GIVES UP
AN ESPECIAL TREASURE.
Shore of the Tyrrhenian Sea Most
Interesting Field for
Archaeologists.
From the Boston Transcript.


The coming playground for arehaeologists
is undoubtedly that part of the Ita tan coast
whence Gree is said to have watched the
TyIrhenian sea. and where the Etruscans
laid their fourishing seaboard cities, prin-
cipal Of which was Populonia. The land is
now somewhat marshy where it is not
rocky, and rather deserted But to this
day 1t retains a weird fascination as differ
ent from the stage-like setting of the too
well-known Riviera above and the equally
well-known Gulf of Naples below as the
Etruscan tomb-vault Is from the modern
and perchance fashionable chapel.
Softer and SUMMER than the Adriatic land
scape, this waving coast line is suggestive
of hidden treasures. Private activity, I'M
der government control as to its results,
has just brought to light such a group of
priceless excavation materials. that doubt
almost arises to the ACCESSIBILITY of drop
ping other work that is being done or
planned. in favor of a prompt and exhaus-
tive exploitation of this most interesting OF
excavation fields Some hints of its value
had come to the notice Of official authori-
lies as early as 1898, when a hbula OF no
Bile workmanship was found at San Car
bone, near Porto Baratti.
Etruscan Tombs.
The huge fibula contained an exquisiteIy
carved statuette, bearing a marked similar
ity to the type of the eIl-known Venus
de Medici. 1t was but a part of an inter
esting set of funeral offerings and records
from group Of Etruscan tombs of the
third or second century B. c.; chandeliers,
torchstands, jars, toilet furnishings, jew
elry, scarabs and SO forth. Later the same
tonsbs surrendered terra cottas of obviously
local make, and several cups and Jars. an
other group of interesting jewelry, coins.
of the Hor1eric legend, along with other
objects Of glass; bronze, iron and the more
precious metals
Rather a considerable show, and one that
would reasonably have been conspicuous
anywhere. But the best was yet to come
and every reader who from now on will
have chance to step into the Archaeo-
logical Museum at Florence, Italy, must
look out for It's most recent acquisition the
'Hydriae of Populonia.' If the reader re-
calls the hydra of Medals, that wonderful
piece Of work in the British Museum, he
will forthwith recognize the two pieces al
Florence as belonging to the same rare
class and type of work. The PopulofIa
vases may be said to be twins in shape,
decoration and inspiration, which further
enhances their remarkable value Unlike
their British counterpart. they are deco
rated and meant to be shown only on the
front Red black and gold (no white what
ever being used) and the gold in relief and
In great abundance, give an effect of unsur-
passed brilliancy to the scenes depicted, il
Illustrating the apotheosfs of a poet in the
very flower of youth raised to the heavens
by capricious Aphrodite and by her influ-
ence admitted to the Elysian life. He is
named, by the somewhat decayed inscrip-
lions. on the first vase Phaon, on the sec
ond Adonis, but is obviously the same char
acter, or at least a representative of the
same type. In fact in the Greek myth
world Phaon and Adonis are two favorites
of Aphrodite almost constantly identified
with each other. and uplifted by the God
dess of Beauty to celestial existence the
eternal ecstasy of poetry and music. Also,
a careful study of the vases seems to go
far toward ratifying the brilliant opinion or
Muller, that Phaon Is merely the Greek
name of the syrio-cypriote Adonis similar
to the Phaeton of Hesodean theogony; and
the kindred interpretations of Etruscan
mirror-designs.
The Vases.
In the first vase, then, Phaon sits under
a laurel grove, vault-shaped to give clear
image, with its dark. leafy background and
its golden berries, of the starry vaults of
heaven. He Is crowned with laurel, and
touching the hexachord Tyre, watches his
lady love. Demonassa. gorgeously attired,
who offers him gold-beaded diadem
Latona and Apollo witness the scene In
attitudes of dignified interest. From the
opposite side the nymphs Leura. Chrysope
and ChrySOgeneia offer to the poet the
homage OF rapt attention and another
golden crown. Above them scars Tfneros,
Desire, with his own hand browning the
singer From above the vault of laurel
Aphrodife descends in her golden chariot.
drawn by another Tineros and his twin.
Pothos. attended by Hygeia, health; Eu-
damonia, happiness; Pennychia. the noe
turnal, and Henosora, the spring. ali in
flowing. wind-blown garments. richly
adorned and carrying immortal gifts
In the second vase the laurel vault has
been parted by the power OF Aphrodite to
give passage to the poet who Is rising to
the heavens Of Joy and glory. Aphrodite
welcomes him with outstretched arms and
benevolent hands laid on his shoulders
Tineros plays joyfully about, the maidens
dance and play and make themselves gen
orally and varfously ornamental Higher
up still, sitting on clouds, more ladies'
watch the charming scene-Eurynoe, the
broad-minded; Chrysothemis. the golden
rule; Paidia, joy; Hygeia, Health. and Pam
daisia along with various Erotes or
Cupids.
Undoubtedly these pictures are repre-
auctions Of large wall paintings directly In
spired by the grand art" OF Phidias and
Poitgnotus, and belonging to the century
of Pericles. The lack of the artists sigma
ture to q work OF such wonderful ability |
and etaborateness seems strongly to sup
port the hypothesis OF their being re-
dnced size copy of some greater work,
Both the vase Of MeId9as In the British |
Museum and the one In the Museum OF
the best example OF the Kind h overshad-
owed by the Hydr1ae OF Populouia They
are to the rest OF Greek ceramic art what
an ode of Sanpho - u the uffnor Undhka a. /