Chambers's Journal of Popular Literature, Science, and Art, No. 727, December 1, 1877 — John Shaqi
Chambers's Journal of Popular Literature, Science, and Art, No. 727, December 1, 1877Various
History
Chambers's Journal of Popular Literature, Science, and Art, No. 727, December 1, 1877
Various
Periodicals
Besides a double necklace and ear-rings of a woman, many articles
made of obsidian, a volcanic product sometimes called volcanic glass,
have been found in Therasia. These are cut, but not polished; some
of a triangular form have probably been the points of arrows; others
are like small knives or scrapers for preparing skins. The use of
obsidian appears to have been common during the Stone age among those
nations who lived in volcanic regions, and even in later periods. It
is said that it is still used by the women of Peru for scissors. It
was more generally in vogue before the discovery of metals than since,
particularly in Greece, where arms and tools of stone disappeared after
copper was found. In the strata where they are at Therasia, there is
nothing of iron or bronze.
Two small rings of gold are rather remarkable; they are so small that
they would not pass over a child's finger. It may be inferred that
they were links of a necklace. In each there is a hole about the size
of a needle's eye. Probably they had been threaded one after another
on the same string, and not interlaced like the rings of a chain. The
interior is hollow; and no indication of soldering can be perceived,
neither does the gold seem to have any alloy of other metal. The maker
had flattened the bit of native gold by hammering it to the state of a
thin circular leaf, and then folding it up with the edges to the inside
of the ring. As gold has never been found in Santorini or in any of
the neighbouring volcanic islands, it proves that the inhabitants held
communication with the continent; certain streams of Asia Minor having
been celebrated in antiquity for the great quantity of gold brought
down.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account