DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.959#0152
Chap. V. 1871.] THE SUPPOSED RUINS OF TROY. 91
no longer wide enough for carrying away such enormous
blocks of stone, and it must first of all be made at least
13 feet wider. This is, however, a gigantic piece of work,
which, owing to the daily rain, I dare not venture to begin
with winter close upon me.
On account of the many huge stones, no terra-cottas
were found either yesterday or on the preceding day.
To day, however, during the last hour's work, I found a
small pot, only about 2 inches high, with three feet; the
whole of the upper portion is in the form of a globe, and
is divided into five large and five small fields, changing
alternately in regular succession. All of the large fields
are filled with imprinted little stars. The mouth or open-
ing is only about \ of an inch in diameter. I presume
that this small and wonderful Trojan vessel was used by
ladies for holding scented oil, which we know was applied
after the bath. It cannot have been used as a lamp, for
Homer, who lived 2,00 years after the destruction of Troy,
does not as yet know of lamps. I also found this morning
two copper arrow-heads, and one of those small terra-cotta
" volcanoes," which for some days have been less frequently
met with. Further, a small leaden plate, nearly an inch and
a half in length as well as in breadth, with the character p
in the centre and a hole in one corner, which leaves no
doubt that the small piece used to be hung up.
Although the word ypafeiv only occurs twice in
Homer, and both times only signifies "to scratch into,"
yet I am firmly convinced that an alphabetical language
was known in ancient Troy, and I cherish the hope of
being able next spring to discover inscriptions and other
monuments, which will leave no doubt, that, since yesterday,
at the depth of 33 feet,* I have begun to uncover the ruins
°f the city of Troy, so long looked for theoretically and
This refers to the lowest of the strata, which Dr. Schliemann long
took for the ruins of the Homeric Troy.—[Ed.]
no longer wide enough for carrying away such enormous
blocks of stone, and it must first of all be made at least
13 feet wider. This is, however, a gigantic piece of work,
which, owing to the daily rain, I dare not venture to begin
with winter close upon me.
On account of the many huge stones, no terra-cottas
were found either yesterday or on the preceding day.
To day, however, during the last hour's work, I found a
small pot, only about 2 inches high, with three feet; the
whole of the upper portion is in the form of a globe, and
is divided into five large and five small fields, changing
alternately in regular succession. All of the large fields
are filled with imprinted little stars. The mouth or open-
ing is only about \ of an inch in diameter. I presume
that this small and wonderful Trojan vessel was used by
ladies for holding scented oil, which we know was applied
after the bath. It cannot have been used as a lamp, for
Homer, who lived 2,00 years after the destruction of Troy,
does not as yet know of lamps. I also found this morning
two copper arrow-heads, and one of those small terra-cotta
" volcanoes," which for some days have been less frequently
met with. Further, a small leaden plate, nearly an inch and
a half in length as well as in breadth, with the character p
in the centre and a hole in one corner, which leaves no
doubt that the small piece used to be hung up.
Although the word ypafeiv only occurs twice in
Homer, and both times only signifies "to scratch into,"
yet I am firmly convinced that an alphabetical language
was known in ancient Troy, and I cherish the hope of
being able next spring to discover inscriptions and other
monuments, which will leave no doubt, that, since yesterday,
at the depth of 33 feet,* I have begun to uncover the ruins
°f the city of Troy, so long looked for theoretically and
This refers to the lowest of the strata, which Dr. Schliemann long
took for the ruins of the Homeric Troy.—[Ed.]