The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1906-06-15
THE SPARTA EXCAVATIONS.

Finds of British Explorers on the
Site Of Athens Great Rival.
The walls of the city have been
traced for four-ffths of their extent,
and are ascertained to be not By
zantine, but Roman in period. It
seems likely that the adjacent en-
ceinte was cleared of buildings in
classical times for stategic purposes.
The excavators think that the an
Gent city may have included the
area between the low hill which
served as an Acropolis and the River
Eurotas, in which case our notions
of Spartan topography must be re-
vised.
The second point of interest has
been the investigation of the theatre,
hitherto the only identified. site of
the ancient city, where life sized
statue of Asklepios, with portions Of
reliefs probably belonging to the pro-
scenium, have been found.
But the most important result OBJ
tanned has been the identification, at
tested by inscriptions, of the site of
the Temple of Artemis Orthia, which
we know from Pausanias to have
been the scene of the chastisement OF
the youths Of Sparta, where enor-
nous finds Of votive offerings have
been made. The scene Of the discov-
cry is field on the right bank of the
Eurotas. about half mile to the
south of the modern bridge. From
time to time boys playing in the
river bed had picked up figurines of
lead. Similar figurines having been
found some years ago in the excava-
lions at the shrine of Menelaos on
the opposite side of the river, the
British excavators suspected the ex-
istence of a second sanctuary and
made trial here ON April Z. With
in few hours it was clear that the
site contained an immense deposit
of votive offerings. During the past
fortnight a few skilled workmen,
working slowly with knives, have ex-
tracted many thousands Of these pc
| culiar figuriues.
At least fifty variant types have
| been found representing divine and
human figures, musicians, centaurs.
| sirens, fish, and other animal forms,
with inanimate objects, including al
tars, wreaths, vases, helmets, and
mirrors. If the material and the
modest scale of offerings seem to IL
lustrate the traditional simplicity OF
! Spartan usage, their number proves
the Importance and popularity Of the
cult. Nor are offerings of more cost
ly material wanting. The ivory carv-
ings include two statuettes in the
round a lion, four figures of rams,
a helmeted head and number OF
disks, combs, and pins. In bronze
there are statuettes of horse and
a dog, and large fragments of bowls
and caldrons richly decorated in re-
pousse work Smaller objects OF
both gold and silver have been found,
including a silver pin with fine spi-
raliform decoration. Terra Gotta sta
tuettes in great variety have come
to light with large quantities of pot
terry Apart from this deposit, up
ward of 100 inscriptions have been
found since the work began.
Broadly speaking, the deposit de-
scribed above consists of objects
which may be assigned to the sixth
and fifth centuries before our era.
The pottery is largely of the "Orien-
talizing" types, and the presence OF
scarabs and other imported objects
confirms what has already been sus'
| pected, the presence Of strong Orien'
tai influence in Laconian art OF the
archaic period. The site is one Of
exceptional promise and more than
iustifies the selection of Sparta as
thu scene of the labors of the British
school when it is remembered that
the results enumerated above come
from the mere fraction of the temple
precincs that has been opened. IN
til to-day archaeologic research has
done little or nothing to add to our
knowledge OF the State which vies
with Athens herself for the COM
manding place in Hellenic history;
| and it rests with US to see that the
work thus happily inaugurated is
adequately sustained. Lon n
Times.