The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-14
The Kaiser as an Archmologist.

The Kaiser as an Archaeological.
Three years ago the Emperor OF Ger
many became interested in a question
that was vexing archTologists. Some
eminent students have asserted that the
poet of the Odyssey drew upon his mag
ination for his description of the island
home of King ULYSSES, who had ten
years Of narrowing tribulation while
endeavoring to return to his native isle
of Ithaca after the Trojan war. Other
distinguished psychologists have been
equally positive that the little island now
known as Ithaca, one of the smaller Of
the Ionian islands, is the Ithaca OF the
Homeric story. Within a few years
other authorities, such n D%0RPFELD,
CAUER and DRERUP, have advanced the
view that the much larger island of
Leucas, to the north of Ithaca in the
in the Homeric poem as the home OF
ULYSSES.
The Kaiser read all the pamphlets and
discussions relating to this controversy
and decided TO take part himself in the
quest for a solution. He held with some
of the ntroversialists that descriptions
of Ithaca in the Odyssey were so circum-
Btantial and full of detail that they were
probably drawn from nature, hence the
most profitable line of research would
be TO ascertain if one or another of the
islands might have any striking resem-
blance to the Ithaca of the Greek hero.
As very plausible reasons had been
advanced for the theory that Leucas is
the ancient Ithaca, the Kaiser decided to
have it surveyed by the most thorough
topographic methods. He supplied the
required cash, gave the survey into the
charge of Captain WALrHER Won MAREEs
of the army, and appointed as his col
leagues Professor D6RPFELD, secretary
of the German Archaeological Institute
of Athens, and Lieutenant NOME. This
was in August, 1904, and in March, 1905,
the work began.
The results of the investigation have
just been published in a style worthy Of
al imperial patron. The folio is not a
thick one, for Captain Won MAREEs's
report covers only forty pages. 1t is
accompanied by a portfolio of six large
maps in colors produced in the best Ger
man style. The work is entitled "Karten
Won Leukas. Beitrage EUR Frage Leukas-
lthaka" Contributions to the Leucas-
Ithaca Question:. A considerable num-
Der Of beautiful photographs Of various
parts of the island illustrate the conclu-
.,Ana ,rht,h 49, @xya.s.N- h.
reached, and there are meteorological
tables covering the seven months of the
research; for Captain Won MAREEs, mind
full Of the weather lore relating to Ithaca
which the Odyssey records, compares it
with the conditions as he observed them.
Probably few islands have ever been
made the object of a more minute and
careful study. Most persons who may
master the contents of this folio and
the accompanying maps will very likely
gain a more accurate knowledge of the
island in all its scientific aspects than
they would be able to acquire by a per-
sonal visit; and the most casual reader
will be interested in the accumulation
Of striking facts that seem to agree with
the bits Of description of the Homeric
Ithaca that are scattered through the
pages Of the Odyssey.
The data adduced for the identification
of Lcucas with the island of the Greek
poet would fill several newspaper col
umns. IL will suffice 10 give here a few
illustrations. DoRPFELD's excavations
convinced HIM that he had found the
site of the ancient capital in the plain
Of Nidri, somewhere between three
fourths Of u mile and a mile from the
present shore and sixty feet above the
sea. The Odyssey says the plain slopes
from the city TO the sca. The mountain
Of Skaros ,ilomcric, NcioS), mt the foot
Of which the city was sheltered from the
cold north and northeast winds, accord
ing to the famous epic, ovcrlooks the
site OF the buried ruins. The mountain
Is still covered with oaks, as when the
poet sang.
Near the city were " large springs,
al which it * assorted unmistakable
traces have now been revealed. Two
indentationS ia the harbor. coast line,
o larger and q smaller one. and also a
peninsula, all or which figure in the poem,
arc still a part e. Inc conformation If the
shqrs. tlle caves described in the poem