Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-07
GREEK ART FROM the SEA
RARE ANTIQUITIES RECOVERED
FROM THE GREEN DEPTHS.
Marbles and Bronzes Taken From
Old Wreck on the Coast
of Tunis.
From the Kolnische Zeitune.

From the kolnische Zeitung.
The excavations from the bottom of the
sea which the director of antiquities or
Tunis has caused to be made or Mahdfa
have led this summer to new and surpris-
ing discoveries. The ancient chip which
sank there once not far from the north
coast of Africa held within itself a whole
museum of ancient works In marble and
bronze. With true ardor the Greek divers
who discovered the treasure on the sea
bottom brought one piece after another
TO the surface during May and June.
That was no slight work, for the bulk of
the ships cargo consisted OF a large num-
Der OF marble columns most OF them
305 meters long and .65 meters In d.
ameter. One Of them was lifted to the
surface in order to give some idea or
the architecture to which the columns.
the many column bases and the richly
adorned Ionic capitals belonged.
Many Marble Statues.
Among other marble pieces the report
Of the director of antiquities at Tunis,
A. Merlin, mentions a number Of triangu-
lar bases or pillars resting on griffin fest,
the lateral surfaces surrounded by strings
of beads in relief. They bore crowns
with rich ornanentation Of oak and acan-
BILE milk jars adorned with bacchic reiiefs.
worthy companions for the celebrated
Borglese vase in the Louvre. Moreover.
the ship must have borne a multitude of
marble statues. OF which up to the pres
ent two naked torsOS, a Statuette of the
hunting Artemis ten heads Of laughing
satyrs larger than life a faun. several
female and number of chfldren's stat
uettes have been raised. Many statues
are badly disfigured by banacles that
N
woman statues, however, the face has
been wholly spared. A tombstone relief
representing a funeral banquet at which
six persons are taking part was also
found
In addition to the marble work art OBJ
jects I'm bronze are represented in large
numbers. Among them are a statue OF
Eros which served as candeiabrum.
satyrs, dancing Cupids. man bearing q
mask. busts that serve as brackets or
supports; likewise an Athene with the
helmet of very fine workmanship: Arte-
mis- with the culver on her shoulder;
which served as feet for beds and orna-
ments; further. lion heads. masks OF
bearded men and Bacthantes, gr1nins.
which belonged to articles of furniture.
A vase handle is made out of q panther
preparing to spring: a plaque has on Ii
two griffins; columns, capitals. animals
feet belonged to large candelabra. Charm
ing lamps complete the rich collection or
bronzes.
Greek Inscriptions.
The greatest surprise. however, was
caused by four Greek inscriptions. The
first Is a simple sepulchral column for .
man from the village Of Phyle In Attica:
the second contains In twenty three lines
a resolution of the Paraloi. q district In
Africa. in honor of an Attic citizen. In the
third inscription also the word Paraloi
can be read: the fourth comes from the
temple Of Amm6n In Athens. and names
the votiye offerings which the demos OF
Athens gave to this god In the fourth
century before Christ This proves that
the wrecked ancient ship came from At
tica before IL was cast by contrary winds
on the coast Of north Africa.
Traces are also now found of its crew
and equipment. The anchor has been
hoisted to the surface: further. many
amphorae used for water. oil and wine:
In one Of these remnants of pitch could
be made out Also an earthenware lamp.
perhaps of the first century before Christ.
In which the wick was well preserved.
did two little handmills for corn. The
point to which this richly laden ship was
steering from the Attic coast can hardly
be doubtful. No one but q Roman prov
incial ofiiciai or dealer In antiquities could
have gathered together on the ship this
select quantity of Greek plumber. In which
even the simple blocks with inscriptions
are not lacking and for the purpose Of
fetching II to Italy. How many Of the
countless Greek works In marble IN the
Italian museums may formerly have
crossed the sea in a like manner! How
many Of them may have sunk In the ssat