DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9184#0075
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CHAPTER III.
MYCENAE AND THE ISLANDS.
WHEN in the winter of 1876 the brilliant discoveries of
Dr. Schliemann at Mycenae, and the richness of the
treasure in gold, silver and bronze which he brought to
light, drew the attention of all Europe, every archaeologist
felt that a new chapter in the record of prehistoric Greece
was being unrolled, and a new light being thrown on an
age which had been hitherto known to us only from the
mythical legends of Greek historians, and from the
immortal Homeric poems. The discoveries of Dr. Schlie-
mann came to us as a first glimpse into an unknown world,
but new glimpses into that world have been since afforded
us by a score of interesting excavations and discoveries
in Greece and the Islands. And it seems that the time
has almost arrived when we can review and marshal the
accumulated evidence. That we are yet prepared to indi-
cate with clearness the general results to which it leads,
and to compare in a satisfactory way the evidence of the
spade with the evidence of legend and of poem, I do not
say. But we can at least lay down a few lines which
seem to be established by research and comparison, and
measure out more exactly the amount of uncertainty
which yet remains.
In days when the timid sailor dared not venture out of sight
of land or out of reach of a port, the Argolid possessed re-
markable facilities for commerce. The Levantine sailor, at
CHAPTER III.
MYCENAE AND THE ISLANDS.
WHEN in the winter of 1876 the brilliant discoveries of
Dr. Schliemann at Mycenae, and the richness of the
treasure in gold, silver and bronze which he brought to
light, drew the attention of all Europe, every archaeologist
felt that a new chapter in the record of prehistoric Greece
was being unrolled, and a new light being thrown on an
age which had been hitherto known to us only from the
mythical legends of Greek historians, and from the
immortal Homeric poems. The discoveries of Dr. Schlie-
mann came to us as a first glimpse into an unknown world,
but new glimpses into that world have been since afforded
us by a score of interesting excavations and discoveries
in Greece and the Islands. And it seems that the time
has almost arrived when we can review and marshal the
accumulated evidence. That we are yet prepared to indi-
cate with clearness the general results to which it leads,
and to compare in a satisfactory way the evidence of the
spade with the evidence of legend and of poem, I do not
say. But we can at least lay down a few lines which
seem to be established by research and comparison, and
measure out more exactly the amount of uncertainty
which yet remains.
In days when the timid sailor dared not venture out of sight
of land or out of reach of a port, the Argolid possessed re-
markable facilities for commerce. The Levantine sailor, at