Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-26
RELICS FOUND IN SICILY
MOTYA EXCAVATIONS REVEAL
TRACES OF PHOENICIANs.
Metropolis Shows Two Forms Of In
torment Believed to Have Been
Used in Prehistoric Times.

Palermo Letter to the New York Times
There is some good in every ILL.," the
French say. and the destruction OF Mes
sina by earthquake has served to draw
attention to another part of Sicily-to
the little Island of Pantaleo. known in
ancient times as Motya. once a strong
hold Of the Phoenicians and the scene
Of tho famous siege by Dionysius and the
Syracusan army in 397 b. c. The present
interest in Motya are the excavations
that are being conducted by the owner
Of the property. Joseph Whitaker OF
MARSHA and Palermo.
Motya lies on the coast six miles dis
tant on the road from MARSHA to Ira
pani Until recently only two or three
houses in the modern town were known to
have traces Of the stones of the ancient
Phoenician city.
The idea of excavating at Motya first
occurred to Mr.. Whitaker some twenty
i've years ago. He then and there set
to work to acquire land on the island.
and finally succeeded in getting posses
sion Of the entire property in 1905. The
task was no light one, for. although the
island is only a few hundred acres In ex-
tent. the number Of petty farms upon it
was considerable. most of the holdings
being occupied by persons born and
brought up on the spot. and thus. not
unnaturally, loath to leave 1t. In many
cases. however. particularly those of the
older Inhabitants. the new proprietor did
not insist on their abandonment Of their
homes. but was quite willing that they
should remain in them as tenants.
The systematic excavation of the island
began early in 1908. and is now in prog
ress under the charge of Signor Lipani,
q well know resident of MARSHA, super
vised on behalf Of the Italian authorities
by Prof. Salinas OF Palermo. A local
museum has just been erected, in which
all the objects of interest from the exca-
vations are being arranged. To this mu-
scum the celebrated has relief of a tiger
devouring bull. with a PhOenician in
scription. originally found at Motya:
at the town ball Of Marsha. has now been
removed by arrangement with the mu-
nicipality. and will form one Of its chief
attractions.
worked rocks In so-called Cyclopean style,
and partly Of solid well wrought masonry.
have been carefully explored. and some
interesting features. not visible before.
now seems likely to be surpassed by the
southern gate. the massive battlements of
which have been found lying in the i'm
mediate vicinity.
A Small Inland Harbor.'
Besides this, two important stone STAIR
cases In the line Of the walls have been
disclosed-one to the northeast Of the
island. composed of a double flight with
twenty-three steps. the other presenting
q single flight of only eleven. The former
Of these staircases. which form a sally
port descending to sea level, is in almost
complete preservation. A still more re-
markable find however, is a rectangu-
lar Enclosure, substantially built Of stone.
at the southern end OF the island, which
was evidently a small inland harbor. or
potion, measuring about forty by twenty
yards, with narrow stone-lined channel
leading to tho sea. This had been dis
e,lised by its conversion into a salt pan.
such as are in common use throughout
the district. but its original purpose is
unmistakable.
, Another very striking discovery is that
OF the metropolis at the northern extrem-
ity of the island on the strip OF shore
between the fortfications and the sea.
This is highly interesting to the archeol-
ogist, as 1t shows two forms OF inter-
ment in close propinqhity. urn-shaped