The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-18
O1anEluu
| $YA |
l)
" ~ - =


ExMfNI Of the ancient civilization
OF Crete has just un.
earthed evidence OF a successful
militant suffragette movement at
least 1900 years before our era, and
probably 1000 years before 1t. The
discoveries which lead the Ger.
mans to the conclusion that women
on that distant date arose for'theIr
rights. and got them, were made at
Tiryns, on the Greek mainland.
Tiryns. in Its heyday. was one of
the greatest cities OF the Cretans.
1t has been famous for centuries as
the birthplace Of Hercules, the
greatest strong man and most Wig
orous demi.god Of legend. Tiryns
is now, and has been for centuries.
mass Of ruins, mostly deep in
earth. The sheep OF the Greek
shepherds have grazed above its
palaces and temples for ages.
The conclusions of the scientists
throw a strong new light ON this
legend OF Hercules and his CITY.
The famous story OF his enslaye,
ment by Queen Omphale is only,
they say. fauciful presentation
OF the important fact that a great
woman's suffrage movement which
swept over and conquered Crete
began and was first successful in
Tlryns. The method is one Der.
fectly familiar TO all students OF
legend and mythology.
The Cretan or Minoan language
has never yet been read. No Ro-
setta stone. by which the hero.
glyphics OF the Egyptians were
first deciphered. has been found to
give the clue to the Minoan char.
scters. But at Tiryns there was
uncovered a mass OF wonderful
wall paintings. jars and vases and
mosaics, most OF which bore in
pictures the story of this women.s
uprising and Its consequences sol
plainly that there can be littleI
doubt that the German scienttstsj
have read their meaning rightly
These were not Creeks who built
.Tiryns and who erected the mag.
nificent palaces now being uncoy.
cred. The builders had come from
Asia Minor. they were OF the same
old Minoan race as the Trojans.
1t was the might Of the barbarian
Greek city Of Argos. a ueighbor.
which brought about the destruc.
ton OF the Minoan cities. and with
them Tiryns. about. perhaps, 500
B. c. The very ancient Greeks did
not hold women in very high re.
gard. and so they felt that It would
never do to admit that woman had
ever ruled, or there might be dan.
ger Of the Greek women setting
up their rights" to dominate the
State and society. Thus came
about the peculiar twist in tho
Hercules legend which none has
been able to explain hitherto.
It has been recognized as
Lydian part of the story. which a
means that 1t comes from Asia V
Minor. and this adds to the
value OF the new Interpretation
As the story goes, the hero
Hercules is entrapped by
Queen Omphale, and devotes
himself to pleasures. losing
himself In the society OF won.
en- 80 far as to put on feminine
attire, while his lively lady
Omphale takes up his lion skin,
puts 1t on, and with the club r.
OF Hercules In her hand faunts
herself before the degenerate
hero. and proves herself the {
real hero.
Even though according to L
the legend Hercules does break
forth from his effeminacy at
times and vanQuishes the .Ce.
cropes, the COLLINS who used r
to waylay travellers and slew II
Syleus. who compelled all tray. p
ellers to dig In his vineyard, Of
woman is still the dominating Fl
power. Queen Omphale has Of