New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-02
HELEN'.S SHRINE.
The Fruit of Some Recent En-
carnations IN Greece.

Athens letter in The London Morning
Post.
At a meeting held in the library OF the
British School on Friday last two inter
esting papers were read, dealing with the
excavations Of last year at Sparta ana IN
Northern Greece, respect1Nely MI "A D.
r WAGE gave an account OF the eHcdNe =
lions at the so-called Menalaion' a sanCI-
uarv situated OH a precipitous NIL 10 tne
southeast of Sparta on the further q. p,
EASTERN bank of the Eurotds- IniS
building had long been known as the
Menelaion, and had been partly excd-
waited by Ludwig Ross as early as 1900
and again by DIR. p. KaStrlous III 15UU'
for the Greek government, but unfort-
unatey no find has as yet confirmed
its identification with the well known
sanctuary of Helen and Menelaus at
TherapnR mentioned by Pausanias ana
others though this is on other grounds
extremely probable. The building was
completely uncovered last year, and It's
general plan can be clearly restored ON
the actual summit of the hill are the re-
mains of an artificial platform, support
ed by a revetment Of large squared
blocks TO which professional ramp
gives access on the western side. In the
middle OF this platform were discovered
the foundations Of a small building,
which was probably an altar or a shrine.
The platform itself seems to belong TO
the fifth century b. G, judging by the
type of the masonry. and was probably
crowned by triglyph frieze in marble.
1t is not Improbable that an earlier
shrine which had partly or completely
collapsed in the great earthquake OF 465
B. c. was rebuilt at that period. Ex-
animation of the votive objects showed
that earlier buildings had occupied the
site.
In the lowest stratum the excavators
found fragments of late Mycenean pot
terry. Above this was a floor Of beaten
earth containing objects in the geometric
and Orientalizing" styles; among the lat
! ter, and dating probably from the first
half Of the seventh century, was a bronze
! female statuette in perfect preservation.
Above this level was another floor of
beaten earth, on which were objects OF
sixth century date. Here the remains Of
| a house and several fragments of tiles
and terra Gotta antefixes were also I'M
covered. This was, perhaps, the house
of the priests OF the sanctuary. Below
| the platform, at a short distance down
| the eastern slope of the hill, was found
| deposit OF black earth composed OF
| burnt debris from sacrifices, and con-
| tanning a large quantity of yotive objects
dating from the latter part of the sev
| enth century. Among these were some
fine fragments OF the vases now known
| as Iaconian H. terra Gotta statuettes ot
good workmanship. an interesting series
| of small objects in bronze Oncluding
dice pendants In the form of bulls
| heads, and a ibula In the shape of n
lionD, and numerous diminutive lead
! figurines.
Mr. WAGES paper also pointed out in
conclusion that the discovery OF Myce-
n@sn pottery close 10 the Menelaion
proves that here, or hereabouts, stood
Homeric Sparta, and that one would
naturally expect 10 find ths shrine OF
Helen and Menelaus In this neighbor
hood This requirement was OF course
fulfilled by the building Just described
but the Identification, though extremely
probable, vas not yet certain.