Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-01
Restoring Athens of Africa

excavations have brought to light two
sanctuaries, with facades to the east, to-
gether constituting the Plutonium. In
the larger Of these were found frag-
mentS of a statue Of Hades-Pluto, with
head, hands and feet of marble, while
the body of the divinity, the throne
upon which he Is seated and the figure
of Cerberus standing near, are of vol
canic rock The style of the statue In
dicates the Roman imperial time.
In the other small temple, Of similar
arrangement but not constructed be-
fore the Roman age, was found a large
female statue of marble representing
easily recognizable as q Fersephone OF
the rare Greek type near the end Of
the fifth century B. c.
Head Of Agrippina.
Behind the southern wall of the lit
tie temple and evidently rolled there
from height was splendid marble
Agrippina the Elder, one of the finest
portraits of the Age of Augustus.
Another admirable head, in bronze,
was discovered near the southwest cor
ner Of the Apollonium: 1t was the por-
trait of victor in the sacred games,
possibly of a Cyrenian sovereign, the
style being that of an original dating
from the middle of the fifth century
B. G.
Among these remains of religious
edifices there we're fountains fed by the
great Spring Of Apollo and stairways
which assembled in southerly direction
toward the highest platform Of the
sanctuary.
At the point where the Sacred WAY
turned toward the temples after pass
ing the columnar entrance gateway
we found an elegant fountain Of Hell
lenic construction, with its rectangular
Enclosure formed of square blocks.
Victory Edifice Described.
The most recent excavations in this
area have brought to light rectangu-
lar edif1ce, built against the wall Of
heavy blocks and evidently constructed
between the fourth and third centuries
3. c. in memory of victory. With its
ancient materials put back in place we
now can see 1t in its original aspect, II
rises from a base Of three steps: its
front, toward the north, Is adorned
with a Sculptured portal. In the in
Scription are preserved the names of
three generals of Cyrene, who state that
they dedicated this monument to Apollo
1t being tenth part of the booty taken
from the enemy. Above the doorway
there must have been another inscrin-
ton, but 1t was cut away by a func-
tionary of the Emperor of Tfberius
certain Sufenas Proculus. who had a
new dedication carved there. conse-
Grating the monument to this sovereign.
At one end of the temple was a marble
statue of Tiebrius, standing erect and
holding globe in his right hand.
To the west of the votive monument
We have discovered a hundred small
tables for holding offerings, and NINA
ture affairs made of volcanic stone, with
dedications to various divinitieS SUPER
was a marble column upon which there
was incised, in clear characters, an in
scription of exceptional historical and
political Importance. This inscription
transmits to us the will by the terms of
which Ptolemy Euergetes II, called
Physcon, bequeathed to the Romans his
kingdom, Cyrenaica, in case of his
death without legitimate heirs. This is
the only one of the famous testaments
Tn favor of Rome, left by foreign kings,
which has been preserved to our day'
The Fount Of Apollo has been finally
revealed as one of the most comulex
and the most suggestive Of ancient
wells. It is composed Of an interior
grotto Of the Nymphs. which had been
arttlcially enlarged to more than so
feet In length. The entire surface Of
LAC wall ol TUCK SURROUNDING the fOuQt
mas been cut into stairwayS. inches and
grottoes Of religious character, and On
ledge, far above, wall Of heavy cl1t
stone blocks supported road along
which were the most ancient Of the
tomhS.
Rock Dam Used.
Below. at the foot Of the rock q
long wall of blocks or square form.
strengthened by two steps, was en-
ployed as q dam for the water from
the hills and frcm the rount; this was
munificent and grandiose dedicatorv
denation of a priest of Apollo in the
fourth or third century BIC.
road cut in the solid rock on the
northeast flank of the Acropolis rises
from the Sanctuary Of Apollo and leads
to the other great complex of ruins
Identified as the Asnra. or public
s. aMaa A. =