this day is in tolerable preservation. It consists of three chambers, a long ante-chamber opening into a circular room, from which another and smaller chamber branches off, which was probably the room in which the body was deposited. The circular room, 48 feet 6 inches in diameter, has the form of a cone, its sides as they rise curve inwards so that the section represents an equilateral arch. The construction is of horizontal beds in rings narrowing as they ascend, the apex being covered by a single stone. The chamber was lined internally with plates of brass, and a fragment of a shaft was found in the ante-chamber, richly decorated but decidedly Asiatic in detail.
Pausanius describes another tomb that must have been similar in arrangement and construction, but much larger in diameter, judging
Section and Plan of Tomb of Atreus at Mycenae.Gate of Lions, Mycenae.
from the remains, which are believed to be those of the tomb he alludes to.
The entrance-doorways of these tombs are covered with a huge lintel, over which is a triangular space, like a relieving arch for the perservation of the lintel. The lintel seems rather useless, as the arch above is amply sufficient protection to the doorway, but it is probable that the triangular space was intended to be filled-in with a carved image or group standing upon the lintel, as in the case of the tomb at Mycenae, already described, the doorway of which, from the sculpture above, is known as the “ Gateway of the Lions/’ When there was no intention of ornamenting with sculpture in this way the lintel is left out, the arch forming the head of the opening. Another mode of arch-construction is similar to the roofing of the chambers in the Pyramids of Gizeh, immense stones set up at an angle and meeting over the centre of the space.
The great German explorer is at the present time engaged at this very place in unearthing remains, and news is received that Dr. Schliemann 1 has discovered at Mycente quantities of tombs cut out of rocks and carefully formed into regular apartments. The method of burial is also made known, for he finds the dead laid out, without being covered with earth, nor were they cremated. Articles of pottery, glass, crystal, ivory and gems are said to be now on their way to Europe.2
The great Trojan war put an end to the connection of the Pelasgi of Greece with similar tribes of Asia Minor, and after that comes a period of four centuries duration, when the arts appeared to be dead and a cloud rested over the land. The Lydian Empire, from 716
B. c. to 547 b. c., was one of the most powerful in Asia, and at the same time the- Ionian colonies of Greece possessed such power that they even dared to send a taunt to the great Cyrus and dared him to invade their territory. Grecian colonies established all along the coast were of the greatest importance, politically and nationally, whereas the Phoenician colonies were, except in the ease of Carthage, purely mercantile. The Greeks even founded colonies on the shores of the Black sea, everywhere spreading their characteristics and either subduing the Phoenicians, who were generally before them, or making them Greek in character, much in the same way as the Russians colonize nowadays.
Croesus reigned over Lydia when Cyrus came against him in 547 B. c. Croesus was the son of Alyattes whose monument, erected 561 b. c., existed in the days of Herodotus, who describes what he saw and remarks that it was the only object of interest in the place. “ The base is of large stones and the rest a mound of earth, on the summit of which were five termini upon which were inscriptions relative to its construction.” Its circumference at the base was. according to the same historian, 3,800 feet. According to the Prussian Consul, Herr Spiegelthal, who examined it, the wall of large stones mentioned by Herodotus was simply an addition to a rocky platform,
on the edge of which it stands 60 feet in height, the mound rising on the top to the height of 228 feet above the plain. The termini stand on a platform of solid masonry on the top of the mound, and one of them has been found. Herodotus apparently did not know that there was a sepulchral chamber, but at 160 feet from the centre of the mound one has been discovered that measures 11 feet x 7 feet 9 inches x 7 feet high.
Several tumuli exist in the neighborhood but this one of Alvattes is supposed to be the most modern, and its description will suffice as giving the general characteristics of them all.
Cyrus conquered Croesus and carried him away captive to Perse
1 Dr. Schliemann lias died since this was written. 8 a Standard, Sept. 15, 1888.
Section of the Tomb of Alyattes.
polis, but before proceeding further with the history of the country we must notice the groups of rock cut tombs, among which Dr. Schliemann is making further discoveries every day. Those which have been known until quite recently appear to have had no sepulchral chamber, only a cavity made in the face of the cliff, the whole of which, so far as it was suitable, being adorned with geometrical patterns of the nature of the Greek frets. One was surmounted by a pediment, ornamented on the face with projecting squares and at the apex with two scrolls. The wooden origin of all these tombs of Lydia is very apparent, and it is evident that it was from the Persians they learned the use of stone, for none of them date back beyond the time of Cyrus. But among these tombs we find many details of extreme interest because they are the immediate forerunners of the Grecian orders, tombs all rock-cut but with horizontal cornices surmounted with pediments, others again clearly exhibiting the development of the orders. One is of “ Ionic ” form with a facade of two columns flanked by pilasters, having architrave, dentilled cornice and pediment above.
Following the history of Greece we see how intimately the Greeks were connected with all the known countries of Asia. They were essentially a military people and at the time of their greatest prosperity they were the support of every monarch or ruler who could purchase the service of the Greek mercenaries. The Persians, Cyrus. Cambyses, Darius and Xerxes each led an expedition against Greece, each obtained for a short period temporary success; but each in turn had to retreat before the half-clad and terrible, trained
fighters — Darius at Marathon, 490 B. c., Xerxes at Salamis, 480 B. c. — after which the Persians under the less ambitious rule of Artaxerxes gave up the idea of becoming in fact the rulers of the world, though they for another one hundred and thirty years continued to call themselves by that imperious title. With characteristic Persian arrogance the Shall of Persia still is called the “ King of Kings.” Artaxerxes and his followers contented themselves with the subjugation of the neighboring tribes or with invasions of Egypt, assisted by the Greek mercenaries. The Athenians were the principal actors in these events which kept the Persians at bay, the Spartans lending but grudging aid and then only when their immediate interests were concerned. We have seen how Egypt employed
Ionic Lycian Tomb.Temple of Athena at Aegi
Greek mercenaries in her war against the last of the Persians, Darius Codomanus, and how they and the Greek mercenaries in the Persian army united and defeated both the Persians and Egyptians; after which Alexander the Great, son of Philip of Macedon, who founded the Macedonian Empire and overcame the Greeks, being bent on becoming literally the sovereign of the world, invaded Egypt, conquered her and established as a memorial of his success the city of Alexandria. Alexander next turned his arms against Darius Codomanus, and at the very spot “ where the Assyrian Empire had arisen and where it had been overthrown by the Medes, the Medo-Persian Empire was now ” to be brought to its close by the Greeks and Macedonians. The battle of Gangamela, not far from Nineveh,
decided the fate of the Persian Empire 331 B. c. Babylon, Susa, Persepolis, fell into the the hands of Alexander, and he still pushed eastward, conquering the tribes of the hill countries, and finally invading India itself. Opposition front his officers alone prevented his further conquests, but a greater and more important result than further conquest was due to this change of his plans. Sailing down the Indus, erecting forts as he went, conquering the inhabitants, whom he found by no means insignificant in military prowess, he founded at Pattala, the mouth of the Indus, another town of Alexandria. His personal bravery in his battles with these people was conspicuous, and at Malli, their principal stronghold, he was badly wounded, so much so that his plans were for a while delayed. He returned homewards with his army along the coast, intrusting to his friend, Marchus of Crete, the voyage across the Indian Ocean, which resulted in the momentous discovery of a water highway from Arabia to India in the year 325 B. c. At Babylon he conceived the idea of extending his empire westward and by the subjugation of the Carthaginians making himself master of the western world also. Before attempting this he set about the firm establishment of the empire he had won. He married a daughter of the Persian king, Darius Codomanus, whom he had defeated, hoping that by the issue of the marriage, the two nationalities of Persians and Greeks would be united; but before any such scheme could be carried out death cut short this remarkable career, a career unequalled by any man in the world’s history, especially when his youth is taken into consideration.
Pausanius describes another tomb that must have been similar in arrangement and construction, but much larger in diameter, judging
Section and Plan of Tomb of Atreus at Mycenae.Gate of Lions, Mycenae.
from the remains, which are believed to be those of the tomb he alludes to.
The entrance-doorways of these tombs are covered with a huge lintel, over which is a triangular space, like a relieving arch for the perservation of the lintel. The lintel seems rather useless, as the arch above is amply sufficient protection to the doorway, but it is probable that the triangular space was intended to be filled-in with a carved image or group standing upon the lintel, as in the case of the tomb at Mycenae, already described, the doorway of which, from the sculpture above, is known as the “ Gateway of the Lions/’ When there was no intention of ornamenting with sculpture in this way the lintel is left out, the arch forming the head of the opening. Another mode of arch-construction is similar to the roofing of the chambers in the Pyramids of Gizeh, immense stones set up at an angle and meeting over the centre of the space.
The great German explorer is at the present time engaged at this very place in unearthing remains, and news is received that Dr. Schliemann 1 has discovered at Mycente quantities of tombs cut out of rocks and carefully formed into regular apartments. The method of burial is also made known, for he finds the dead laid out, without being covered with earth, nor were they cremated. Articles of pottery, glass, crystal, ivory and gems are said to be now on their way to Europe.2
The great Trojan war put an end to the connection of the Pelasgi of Greece with similar tribes of Asia Minor, and after that comes a period of four centuries duration, when the arts appeared to be dead and a cloud rested over the land. The Lydian Empire, from 716
B. c. to 547 b. c., was one of the most powerful in Asia, and at the same time the- Ionian colonies of Greece possessed such power that they even dared to send a taunt to the great Cyrus and dared him to invade their territory. Grecian colonies established all along the coast were of the greatest importance, politically and nationally, whereas the Phoenician colonies were, except in the ease of Carthage, purely mercantile. The Greeks even founded colonies on the shores of the Black sea, everywhere spreading their characteristics and either subduing the Phoenicians, who were generally before them, or making them Greek in character, much in the same way as the Russians colonize nowadays.
Croesus reigned over Lydia when Cyrus came against him in 547 B. c. Croesus was the son of Alyattes whose monument, erected 561 b. c., existed in the days of Herodotus, who describes what he saw and remarks that it was the only object of interest in the place. “ The base is of large stones and the rest a mound of earth, on the summit of which were five termini upon which were inscriptions relative to its construction.” Its circumference at the base was. according to the same historian, 3,800 feet. According to the Prussian Consul, Herr Spiegelthal, who examined it, the wall of large stones mentioned by Herodotus was simply an addition to a rocky platform,
on the edge of which it stands 60 feet in height, the mound rising on the top to the height of 228 feet above the plain. The termini stand on a platform of solid masonry on the top of the mound, and one of them has been found. Herodotus apparently did not know that there was a sepulchral chamber, but at 160 feet from the centre of the mound one has been discovered that measures 11 feet x 7 feet 9 inches x 7 feet high.
Several tumuli exist in the neighborhood but this one of Alvattes is supposed to be the most modern, and its description will suffice as giving the general characteristics of them all.
Cyrus conquered Croesus and carried him away captive to Perse
1 Dr. Schliemann lias died since this was written. 8 a Standard, Sept. 15, 1888.
Section of the Tomb of Alyattes.
polis, but before proceeding further with the history of the country we must notice the groups of rock cut tombs, among which Dr. Schliemann is making further discoveries every day. Those which have been known until quite recently appear to have had no sepulchral chamber, only a cavity made in the face of the cliff, the whole of which, so far as it was suitable, being adorned with geometrical patterns of the nature of the Greek frets. One was surmounted by a pediment, ornamented on the face with projecting squares and at the apex with two scrolls. The wooden origin of all these tombs of Lydia is very apparent, and it is evident that it was from the Persians they learned the use of stone, for none of them date back beyond the time of Cyrus. But among these tombs we find many details of extreme interest because they are the immediate forerunners of the Grecian orders, tombs all rock-cut but with horizontal cornices surmounted with pediments, others again clearly exhibiting the development of the orders. One is of “ Ionic ” form with a facade of two columns flanked by pilasters, having architrave, dentilled cornice and pediment above.
Following the history of Greece we see how intimately the Greeks were connected with all the known countries of Asia. They were essentially a military people and at the time of their greatest prosperity they were the support of every monarch or ruler who could purchase the service of the Greek mercenaries. The Persians, Cyrus. Cambyses, Darius and Xerxes each led an expedition against Greece, each obtained for a short period temporary success; but each in turn had to retreat before the half-clad and terrible, trained
fighters — Darius at Marathon, 490 B. c., Xerxes at Salamis, 480 B. c. — after which the Persians under the less ambitious rule of Artaxerxes gave up the idea of becoming in fact the rulers of the world, though they for another one hundred and thirty years continued to call themselves by that imperious title. With characteristic Persian arrogance the Shall of Persia still is called the “ King of Kings.” Artaxerxes and his followers contented themselves with the subjugation of the neighboring tribes or with invasions of Egypt, assisted by the Greek mercenaries. The Athenians were the principal actors in these events which kept the Persians at bay, the Spartans lending but grudging aid and then only when their immediate interests were concerned. We have seen how Egypt employed
Ionic Lycian Tomb.Temple of Athena at Aegi
Greek mercenaries in her war against the last of the Persians, Darius Codomanus, and how they and the Greek mercenaries in the Persian army united and defeated both the Persians and Egyptians; after which Alexander the Great, son of Philip of Macedon, who founded the Macedonian Empire and overcame the Greeks, being bent on becoming literally the sovereign of the world, invaded Egypt, conquered her and established as a memorial of his success the city of Alexandria. Alexander next turned his arms against Darius Codomanus, and at the very spot “ where the Assyrian Empire had arisen and where it had been overthrown by the Medes, the Medo-Persian Empire was now ” to be brought to its close by the Greeks and Macedonians. The battle of Gangamela, not far from Nineveh,
decided the fate of the Persian Empire 331 B. c. Babylon, Susa, Persepolis, fell into the the hands of Alexander, and he still pushed eastward, conquering the tribes of the hill countries, and finally invading India itself. Opposition front his officers alone prevented his further conquests, but a greater and more important result than further conquest was due to this change of his plans. Sailing down the Indus, erecting forts as he went, conquering the inhabitants, whom he found by no means insignificant in military prowess, he founded at Pattala, the mouth of the Indus, another town of Alexandria. His personal bravery in his battles with these people was conspicuous, and at Malli, their principal stronghold, he was badly wounded, so much so that his plans were for a while delayed. He returned homewards with his army along the coast, intrusting to his friend, Marchus of Crete, the voyage across the Indian Ocean, which resulted in the momentous discovery of a water highway from Arabia to India in the year 325 B. c. At Babylon he conceived the idea of extending his empire westward and by the subjugation of the Carthaginians making himself master of the western world also. Before attempting this he set about the firm establishment of the empire he had won. He married a daughter of the Persian king, Darius Codomanus, whom he had defeated, hoping that by the issue of the marriage, the two nationalities of Persians and Greeks would be united; but before any such scheme could be carried out death cut short this remarkable career, a career unequalled by any man in the world’s history, especially when his youth is taken into consideration.