Cockerell, Charles Robert: The temples of Jupiter Panhellenius at Aegina and of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae near Phigaleia in Arcadia: to which is add a memoir of the systems of proportion employed in the original design of these structures (London, 1860)

INTRODUCTION.

IX

excavators, who were shortly rewarded by finding themselves in complete possession of every object of their
architectural researches. In a few days they were in possession of every detail which they desired, from the
stylobate to the conformation of the tiles, so as to produce the entire restoration of the Temple as set forth in the
accompanying plates. It may be added, that the perfect state of the fragments confirmed the hypothesis already
formed by them from the less perfect remains of Athens, and proved to their infinite satisfaction that the principles
of construction as exhibited in JUgina were common to the other states of Greece during the best period of
Hellenic art.

In the midst of these investigations, their attention was arrested by a new and unexpected incident; one of
the excavators struck upon a fragment of Parian marble, which on closer inspection proved to be the head of a
warrior, enclosed in a casque, and perfect in every feature. It lay with the face turned upwards ; and as soon as
the removal of the earth revealed its proportions to the eye, all felt that a new interest was given to their search :
other fragments quickly followed ; and great indeed was the astonishment of the entire party, when, on clearing
away the fallen portions of the Tympanum and Cornice of the eastern and western Pediments, no less than
seventeen statues, and the fragments of at least ten more, were successively brought into the light of day from
the place in which they had lain concealed for fifteen, if not for twenty, centuries. It seemed, moreover, almost
incredible that such precious relics and such magnificent specimens of the iEginetan School of Art should have
been suffered to lie hid for so long an interval of time under so thin and slight a covering, undisturbed by the
curiosity of the antiquarian, the cupidity of Roman or Venetian conquerors, or the temptation under which the
native population lay from century to century to turn them to some profitable account.

It could scarcely perhaps be expected that the islanders would quietly resign their possession of these
treasures, however little able they might be to appreciate their worth ; and, indeed, their transport from JEgina
was not accomplished without much address, and in spite of many difficulties. What the Archons chiefly feared
was the vengeance of the Capitan Pasha, to whom they were personally responsible, and whose appanage iEgina
was at that time, in common with all the islands of the Archipelago. But their apprehensions were at length
quieted with a present of money ; and the precious treasures were transported to Athens in the first instance.
The Turkish authorities at Athens, however, were no less to be feared than those of iEgina; and it was accordingly
resolved, for their better security, to transport them to Zante. Owing to the marbles being much subdivided by
fracture, they were carried on the backs of mules without any very great difficulty, across Megaris to Porto
Germano, where a boat was in readiness to receive them. From Zante they were again removed to Malta, and
forwarded thence to Rome; ultimately, as is well known, they were deposited at Munich, in the museum of the
King of Bavaria, one of the most distinguished patrons of the fine arts whom modern times have produced.

With reference to the final destination of these marbles, it may be permitted here to add a few words in
justification of the two English gentlemen who took an active part in their discovery, and whose zeal for
the interests of their own country might otherwise seem to lie under an imputation which, in reality, is by no
means merited. On the first discovery of the marbles, information was sent to the British Ambassador at the Porte,
and also to the British government at home through Mr. Hamilton. Shortly afterwards, two English travellers of
distinction—the late Messrs. Gaily Knight and Fazakerly—who happened to arrive at Athens, offered a sum of §§2000
to the two German co-proprietors to relinquish their shares, engaging together with the English proprietors—Messrs.
Foster and Cockerell—to present the whole collection to the British Museum. These terms, however, were declined
on the part of Messrs. Haller and Lynckh, from an equally honourable desire to secure the statues for their own
countrymen. With both parties thus situated, and both equally anxious to strain every nerve for their respective
countries, it is clear that no other mode of solving the difficulty remained, except that of offering them for public
sale. Advertisements were accordingly inserted in the Gazette of every country in Europe, announcing that they
would be offered to public competition in the following year at Zante ; and Mr. Gropius, who was permanently
established as a merchant at Athens, was appointed by common consent to act as agent in the business, in the
absence of the several parties directly interested. In the midst of the political anxieties of the period, the
attention of the British government was directed to the subject through the good offices of Mr. Hamilton, at
whose instance H. M. S. Paulina, Brig of War, was sent out under Captain Perceval, with a most liberal offer for
the immediate purchase and transport of the treasures. The engagement already entered into with the public,
and the zeal of the German co-proprietors, unfortunately combined to render it impossible to accept the offer •
but still, under the immediate apprehension of an attack by the French upon the island of Zante, the proprietors
were induced to consent to the removal of the marbles to Malta, as offering an asylum of greater security.
Captain Perceval, on the part of the British government, undertook this duty. But though the marbles were