Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 February 1891 — EXPLORATION OF DELPHI. [ARTICLE]

EXPLORATION OF DELPHI.

An Illustration of tlie Spirit of American Scholarship. . The success of the Archaeological Institute of America in securing the right to explore the ruins of Delphi is another excellent illustration of the zealous spirit of American scholarship. Of all the historic localities in Greece, Delphi, the seat of the famous oracle of Apollo, is generally considered by archaeologists the most interesting that remains to be explored. The American Institute and the American School at Athens are now in a position to render the same service to classical research and to win honor for themselves that was lately done by the Germans in their explorations of Olympus. Kastri, a modern village of two or three hundred houses, stands above the ancient temples of Delphi. It was pronounced necessary to purchase andremove this village before -excavations could begin. The Grecian Society of Archaeological Research was unable to raise the necessary money—the required sum was set at SBO,OOO. Then the privilege was offered to the French Society, and explorations were commenced in an experimental way, which promised rich results. But the rejection by France of a commercial treaty with the Greek Government, of which the Delphi privilege was erne of the provisions, caused the privilege to be withdrawn, and subsequently the American Society applied for it.“ After a good deal of hard work by the gentlemen interested, the guarantee fund of SBO,OOO has been gathered and the privilege secured. Altogether, the affair is quite a feather in the cap of America. The payment of this money does not carry with it the right to remove from Greece any of the works of art or other materials that may be discovered, except duplicates, but it does give the exclusive right of copying and illustrating them. The Archaeological Institute has about $5,000 a year to devote to the work of excavation, and it is believed that it will be sufficient for the purpose. It is intimated, however, that the public may be called upon, at some future time, to assist the institute in preparing the results of the work for publication. In such a case, the natural pride of cultured Americans in important undertakings of their country people is a pretty good guarantee that the response will be a generousone.—Boston Journal. /