Archaeology in Greece, 1889—90

After the remarkable harvest of the last few seasons, some lull in the activity of explorers and the startling succession of new discoveries was to be expected. So far as the number and variety of results is concerned, it must be acknowledged that this season cannot compare with its predecessors; but a year which has yielded two so splendid acquisitions as the gold cups of Baphion, and the statues by Damophon from Lycosura cannot be said to yield to any in interest. Such discoveries as these are enough to show that we have as yet no reason to believe that the treasures buried in Greek soil are approaching exhaustion; the complete clearing of one site, such as the Acropolis of Athens, only frees energy that can as easily find an outlet elsewhere.As was to be expected from last year's report, there is but little new to record from the Acropolis. The loose blocks, drums of columns, &c., have been reduced to an order that goes far to destroy the picturesque appearance of the mass of ruins. It is difficult to say what advantage can be gained by arranging everything in straight rows, but protests have proved useless. The tower of the minaret and the later casing of the west door of the Parthenon still remain difficulties having arisen to prevent their projected removal. Few discoveries have resulted from this arrangement of the various blocks lying about. Some inscriptions will be found duly recorded by Dr. Lolling in the Deltion; and the lower portion of the well known colossal owl has been discovered and pieced on: the bird is now almost complete. Along the north side of the Parthenon, and at a short distance from it, has been found a row of five holes cut in the solid rock. Their position seems to show that they are later than the construction of the Parthenon; and if so it is hard to see any cause for their being made until mediæval times: similar holes elsewhere, e.g. at Paphos, were certainly not ancient, and were probably cut in comparatively recent times to serve as receptacles for grain or water.