DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4266#0075
OF THE TEMPLE OF APOLLO EPICURIUS.
An arrangement being agreed on at Tripolizza conciliating the rapacity of the Pacha % the ex-
pedition set out for the scene of its operations, and encamped around the ruins of the temple. La-
bourers were hired, upwards of a hundred of whom were employed to disencumber the interior of the
temple from the masses of stone and marble with which it was obstructed; which shattered ruins of
the roof and walls, were doubtless overthrown by earthquakes, in a region so often visited by that ap-
palling calamity.
During three months the principal members of the party continued in that remote and romantic
spot, either watching the progress of the excavation or delineating the charms of the adjacent
sceneryb. The wild music of modern Arcadia was put in requisition, to contribute to the hilarity of
the occasion, and to stimulate the peasantry to exertion.
At length the beautiful frieze in high relief, that surrounded the interior of the cella upwards
of 100 feet in length, and 2 feet 1^ inches in height, was exposed to view, but in numerous fragments,
which were carefully re-united, representing the battles of the Centaurs and Lapitha:and of the Greeks
and Amazons, the favourite subjects of the early Grecian artists. The site of the temple being now
cleared, and the sculpture removed to a place of safety out of the reach of a wanton or superstitious
barbarism ; the persevering excavators caused the frustra of one of the attached Ionic columns of
the cella surmounted by its capital to be placed in their original situation in order to give a better
idea of the interior of the edifice, but this, in their thoughtless or savage ignorance, the natives have
removed or destroyed, and the valuable fragment of the Corinthian capital0, the unique and singular
feature of this edifice, is not now to be found.
The frieze having been removed to Corfu, was there offered to public sale j but, as on a recent
and similar occasion the British government had been by some accident disappointed in the acquisition
of the sculpture of JEginad, considerable interest was excited on the subject of the final destination of
these marbles. Negociations took place with the proprietors, and a price was named which appeared
great, but at length by the concurrence of his present Majesty, then Prince Regent, the purchase of
them was completed by General Campbell, at that time governor of Zante, for the British nation,
and the marbles now enrich our national Museum0.
It is a singular, and in some respects gratifying, coincidence, that the sculpture designed by
Phidiasf, and that by his cotemporaries or rivals, should, after a lapse of twenty-two centuries, be united
under the same roof in a distant and enlightened capital.
The entrance to the temple was facing the north ; it stands in a direction of thirteen degrees
» This excavation took place in the year 1812, during the pe-
riod that Veli Pacha, son of the noted Ali Pacha of Janina, was
Vizir or Governor of the Morea. The agreement with him on the
part of the speculators was to pay him one half of the value of the
marbles for his share, but he being removed from the Pachilic
about the time of the termination of the excavation, he hastily
disposed to his copartners of his property in the sculptures,
which were barely afloat in time to escape being seized by the
janisaries sent for that purpose by his successor. Sec Hughes's
Travels, Vol. I.
b We call to mind a panoramic view of the Temple and its
environs, by Baron Stackelberg, a work of art of the highest
class, made on that occasion.
c It is to be regretted that the travellers engaged in this exca-
vation did not transmit, with the sculpture of the frieze, this
fragment, so very interesting to the history of architecture.
d The marbles of iEgina were offered to our Government for
six thousand pounds, but some demur taking place in consequence
of scarcely any one having seen them but the proprietors, the
owners, half of them Germans, negociated with foreign courts
for their purchase : a day had been fixed however for their public
sale at Malta, and Mr. Combe, of the British Museum, agent of
our government, appeared, but no one was present on the part
of the proprietors to proceed in or authorize the auction. The
sculptures had, in the mean time, been privately sold to the
Prince Royal of Bavaria, an enthusiastic admirer of antiquity,
and munificent patron of artists, for the above sum. Our Govern-
ment might have insisted on a sale taking place according to the
public announcements, but, in consideration of that distinguished
Prince, waived the undoubted right of proceeding further on the
occasion. See the Report from the Select Committee of the
House of Commons on the Elgin Marbles, p. 63.
e The valuable acquisition of these marbles by the interven-
tion of William Hamilton, Esq. now his Majesty's minister at
Naples, was effected at a cost certainly not more than their equi-
valent, considering their authenticity as monuments in the his-
tory of art, the general excellence and beauty of their design,
and also estimating the risk of capital and expense incurred by
their removal. After much correspondence, the proprietors ul-
timately fixed the lowest price at 00,000 dollars, rather above
.£15,000, which Mr. Legh, a gentleman of property who was
one of the fortunate excavators, had offered for them himself.
They were at length purchased for that sum at a public sale at
Corfu. Sec Report of Select Committee.
' The Elgin marbles.
An arrangement being agreed on at Tripolizza conciliating the rapacity of the Pacha % the ex-
pedition set out for the scene of its operations, and encamped around the ruins of the temple. La-
bourers were hired, upwards of a hundred of whom were employed to disencumber the interior of the
temple from the masses of stone and marble with which it was obstructed; which shattered ruins of
the roof and walls, were doubtless overthrown by earthquakes, in a region so often visited by that ap-
palling calamity.
During three months the principal members of the party continued in that remote and romantic
spot, either watching the progress of the excavation or delineating the charms of the adjacent
sceneryb. The wild music of modern Arcadia was put in requisition, to contribute to the hilarity of
the occasion, and to stimulate the peasantry to exertion.
At length the beautiful frieze in high relief, that surrounded the interior of the cella upwards
of 100 feet in length, and 2 feet 1^ inches in height, was exposed to view, but in numerous fragments,
which were carefully re-united, representing the battles of the Centaurs and Lapitha:and of the Greeks
and Amazons, the favourite subjects of the early Grecian artists. The site of the temple being now
cleared, and the sculpture removed to a place of safety out of the reach of a wanton or superstitious
barbarism ; the persevering excavators caused the frustra of one of the attached Ionic columns of
the cella surmounted by its capital to be placed in their original situation in order to give a better
idea of the interior of the edifice, but this, in their thoughtless or savage ignorance, the natives have
removed or destroyed, and the valuable fragment of the Corinthian capital0, the unique and singular
feature of this edifice, is not now to be found.
The frieze having been removed to Corfu, was there offered to public sale j but, as on a recent
and similar occasion the British government had been by some accident disappointed in the acquisition
of the sculpture of JEginad, considerable interest was excited on the subject of the final destination of
these marbles. Negociations took place with the proprietors, and a price was named which appeared
great, but at length by the concurrence of his present Majesty, then Prince Regent, the purchase of
them was completed by General Campbell, at that time governor of Zante, for the British nation,
and the marbles now enrich our national Museum0.
It is a singular, and in some respects gratifying, coincidence, that the sculpture designed by
Phidiasf, and that by his cotemporaries or rivals, should, after a lapse of twenty-two centuries, be united
under the same roof in a distant and enlightened capital.
The entrance to the temple was facing the north ; it stands in a direction of thirteen degrees
» This excavation took place in the year 1812, during the pe-
riod that Veli Pacha, son of the noted Ali Pacha of Janina, was
Vizir or Governor of the Morea. The agreement with him on the
part of the speculators was to pay him one half of the value of the
marbles for his share, but he being removed from the Pachilic
about the time of the termination of the excavation, he hastily
disposed to his copartners of his property in the sculptures,
which were barely afloat in time to escape being seized by the
janisaries sent for that purpose by his successor. Sec Hughes's
Travels, Vol. I.
b We call to mind a panoramic view of the Temple and its
environs, by Baron Stackelberg, a work of art of the highest
class, made on that occasion.
c It is to be regretted that the travellers engaged in this exca-
vation did not transmit, with the sculpture of the frieze, this
fragment, so very interesting to the history of architecture.
d The marbles of iEgina were offered to our Government for
six thousand pounds, but some demur taking place in consequence
of scarcely any one having seen them but the proprietors, the
owners, half of them Germans, negociated with foreign courts
for their purchase : a day had been fixed however for their public
sale at Malta, and Mr. Combe, of the British Museum, agent of
our government, appeared, but no one was present on the part
of the proprietors to proceed in or authorize the auction. The
sculptures had, in the mean time, been privately sold to the
Prince Royal of Bavaria, an enthusiastic admirer of antiquity,
and munificent patron of artists, for the above sum. Our Govern-
ment might have insisted on a sale taking place according to the
public announcements, but, in consideration of that distinguished
Prince, waived the undoubted right of proceeding further on the
occasion. See the Report from the Select Committee of the
House of Commons on the Elgin Marbles, p. 63.
e The valuable acquisition of these marbles by the interven-
tion of William Hamilton, Esq. now his Majesty's minister at
Naples, was effected at a cost certainly not more than their equi-
valent, considering their authenticity as monuments in the his-
tory of art, the general excellence and beauty of their design,
and also estimating the risk of capital and expense incurred by
their removal. After much correspondence, the proprietors ul-
timately fixed the lowest price at 00,000 dollars, rather above
.£15,000, which Mr. Legh, a gentleman of property who was
one of the fortunate excavators, had offered for them himself.
They were at length purchased for that sum at a public sale at
Corfu. Sec Report of Select Committee.
' The Elgin marbles.