Mycenæ: a narrative of researches and discoveries at Mycenæ and TirynsSchliemann, Heinrich
History
Mycenæ: a narrative of researches and discoveries at Mycenæ and Tiryns
Schliemann, Heinrich
Mycenae (Extinct city); Tiryns (Extinct city)
I also collected on the three bodies eleven very curious golden
ornaments, of which I give three engravings (Nos. 297, 298, and 299).
All of them have in the middle a narrow tube, by which they appear to
have been strung on a cord, for they can, in my opinion, only have been
used for necklaces. They were made in the following way: to both ends
of a small tube, which, as we see in the engravings, is ornamented with
circular incisions, was soldered a thin golden wire, which was on either
side turned eleven times round, and these spirals were soldered together,
the outside turn of each also being soldered to the tube. Of the same
pattern were found six bracelets like No. 300, each of which consists of
twelve spirals made of the same fine gold wire; they were fastened round
the arm by the small golden staff at the right, and by the spiral at the
left extremity, which latter served as a clasp.
[Illustration: Nos. 295-300. Golden Hair-holders, Bracelets, and
Ornaments of Necklaces. Size 5:6, about.]
[Illustration: Nos. 301, 302. Golden Balances (τάλαντα).
Sepulchre III. Size 5:7, about.]
[Sidenote: GOLDEN BALANCES.]
There were further found two pairs of golden scales, which I represent
in the engraving (Nos. 301 and 302), but I have been able to photograph
the beam of only one pair, the other beam being too much compressed and
out of shape. Both beams consist of tubes of thin gold-plate, through
which was undoubtedly stuck a wooden stick to give them more solidity;
_débris_ of charred wood were even found in some pieces of the golden
tubes. The beams were attached to the scales by long and very thin straps
of gold. Two of the scales are ornamented with flowers, the others with
beautifully-represented butterflies. Of course these scales can never
have been used; they were evidently made expressly to accompany the
bodies of the three princesses into the grave, and they have, therefore,
undoubtedly a symbolic signification. I may here call attention to the
scales in the wall-paintings of the Egyptian sepulchres, in which are
weighed the good and bad deeds of the deceased. At all events these
scales vividly recall to our remembrance the beautiful passage of
Homer,[295] where Jove takes golden scales and weighs the "lots of doom"
of Hector and Achilles.
"But when the fourth time in their rapid course
The founts were reached, the Eternal father hung
His golden scales aloft, and placed in each
The lots of doom, for great Achilles one,
For Hector one, and held them by the midst:
Down sank the scale, weighted with Hector's death,
Down to the shades, and Phœbus left his side."
LORD DERBY.
[Sidenote: CHILD'S MASK AND GOLD PLATES.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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