Schliemann, Heinrich: Troy and its remains: a narrative of researches and discoveries made on the site of Illium, and in the Trojan Plain (London, 1875)

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CHAPTER XVII.

Spring weather in the Plain of Troy — The Greek Temple of Athena —
Numerous fragments of sculpture — Reservoir of the temple —
Excavation of the Tower — Difficulties of the work — Further
discoveries of walls — Stone implements at small depths — Im-
portant distinction between the plain and decorated whorls — Greek
and Roman coins — Absence of iron — Copper nails : their
peculiar forms: probably dress and hair pins: some with heads
and beads of gold and electrum — Original height of the Tower —
Discovery of a Greek house — Various types of whorls — Further
remarks on the Greek bas-relief— It belonged to the temple of
Apollo — Stones from the excavations used for building in the
villages around — Fever.

Pergamus of Troy, March 15th, 1873.
Since my report of the 1st of this month I have continued
the excavations with great zeal, favoured by glorious
weather and an abundance of workmen. The nights are
cold, and the thermometer still frequently falls to freezing
point towards morning, whereas during the day the heat
of the sun is already beginning to be troublesome, the
thermometer often showing 180 Reaumur (72^° Fahren-
heit) in the shade at midday. The leaves of the trees are
only now beginning to sprout, while the Plain is already
covered with spring flowers.* For the last fortnight we
have heard the croaking of millions of frogs in the sur-
rounding marshes, and during the last eight days the storks
have returned. One of the discomforts of our life in this

* Compare Homer's picture of the marshalling of the Greek forces ;
Iliad, II. 467-8 :—

Mvpioi, offffa re <t>v\Aa «al &v6ia yiyvtrat Spf.

** Upon Scamandcr's flowery mead they stood
Unnumbered as the%'ernalleaves andflowers"— [.Ed,]