The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-10-30
Princeton Makes Present 10 Ruler
Of Turkey
RIcH MOSAIC FOUND IN JERUSALEM
OTHER VALUABLE FINDS MADE
BY ARCHAEOLOGICAL ExPE.
DITIoN OF UNIVERSITY

PRINCETON, N. ]. Oct. 3O.-The
Princeton Archaeological Expedition to
Syria has presented to the Imperial
Ottoman Museum in Constantinople
very large and gorgeous mosaic pave
ment which was discovered by the ex-
petition when it was in Jerusalem two
years ago. Prof, Howard Crosby Buzz
Ter, who with Prof. w. X. Prentice.
Dr. Emo Littman and Frederick A.
Norris. composed the expedition sent
out by Princeton, has returned from
Constantinople, where during the past
summer he superintended the laying
of the mosaic position of honor in the
magnificent new wing of the Imperial
Museum.
most important discoveries of modern
archaeology. It measures about 26x
IA feet, and apparently belonged to a
Roman villa on the outskirts of Je-
rusalem. The design comprises a
number of pictures framed in beauti-
full border of geometric and naturalis-
tic mosaic work. The great picture
of the pavement is about 5x10 feet
square, representing in brilliant colors
and finest workmanship scene IN
which Orpheus is sitting beneath
tree playing upon his Tyre to an au-
dience composed Of many kinds Of
beasts, birds and reptiles. Another
picture IS a group of two personages
possibly portraits Of the master and
mistress of the house. There are
other pictures which represent CEN
taurs, archers, and runners, besides
four huge tragic and comic masks in
the angles of the pavement. The
period is Roman, probably the third or
fourth century A. D.
This great work Of art in a place of
honor in this important museum is a
monument to American archaeological
discovery in the Turkish empire, and
is accepted as such by the Turkish
authorities. In addition to the mosaic
pavement, the Princeton expedition al
so presented to the Imperial Ottoman
museum several other important anti
quities, including a number Of sculp-
tured heads and busts from the great
temple of Baal Shamin at Siah, the
full plan Of which was discovered by
the Princeton men two years ago. AS
mark of appreciation of the gifts,
the Turkish authorities permitted the
Princeton party to travel much further
than they would nave been able to do
otherwise.
While in Europe, Prof. Butler also
visited Leyden, Holland, and arranged
for the publication of the report of
the Princeton expedition to Syria. The
report is to be brought out very elab-
orately in English, with numerous IL
Illustrations, by Brill, the most famous
of European publishers Of Oriental ma
terial. The discoveries set forth in
the report will furnish much data to-
ward the reconstruction of the history
of a people now almost forgotten-the
people who ruled Damascus in the
time of ST. Paul.
The rich archaeological material
brought back to Princeton by the Sy-
rian expedition is now on exhibition
in the Art museum of the university
The casts embrace several complete
doorways very richly carved and orna
mented, window headings, carved pam
els, fragments Of architectural orna-
ment in relief carving and a quantity
of Inscriptions in Greek, Latin, Naba-
taean, Syriac and Arabic. There is a
collection of nearly 1000 pieces of an
.cient glass from tombs in Syria, be-
sides lamys and other objects in pot
terry, small bronze objects, a few orna-
ments in gold and silver, and large
collection of coins dating from the
third century B. c. to the sixth CEN
fury A. D.