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)
The total weight of the specimen was 44·36 grains. The metal was much
corroded on both surfaces. The convex or outer surface was completely
covered with a somewhat irregular crust while the concave or inner
surface was only partly covered with a similar crust, and partly with a
yellowish tarnishlike film. When broken across, the fractured surface
of the crust on both sides of the metal was found to be in two distinct
layers; that next the metal was black, dull, somewhat sectile, and
easily broken; while the other, or outer layer, was light-grey, soft,
sectile, and wax-like. In some places the metal was corroded completely
through. The crust was removed by warm dilute ammonia-water and gentle
rubbing; the residual metal was found to be very brittle, much pitted
on the surface, dull white in fracture, granular, and containing minute
irregular cavities; no appearance of fibre or crystalline structure was
observed, even with the aid of the microscope. By annealing, the softness
and malleability of the metal were restored in a marked degree. The
thickness of the specimen, inclusive of the crust on one surface only,
was 1-25th of an inch; and where the crust was thickest it was 1-20th of
an inch. The thickness of the metal, after the removal of the crust by
dilute ammonia-water and rubbing, was 1-40th of an inch.
A portion of the specimen was selected for analysis to which the
crust was attached on the convex or outer surface only, and which was
comparatively free from crust on the opposite surface; the quantity
operated on was 15·786 grains. By repeated treatment with warm
moderately strong ammonia-water, gentle rubbing, and washing with warm
water, the crust was easily removed; most of it being dissolved by the
ammonia-water, which became pale blue, while the insoluble part was left
as a brownish black powder, intermixed with some particles of metallic
silver. The metal, after this treatment and drying, weighed 11·823
grains. The metal itself (_a_), the portion of the crust soluble in
ammonia-water (_b_), and the residue insoluble in ammonia-water (_c_)
were separately analysed, with the following results:--
COMPOSITION PER CENT.
(_a_) _Metal._ Silver 71·60
Gold 0·22
Copper 2·42
Lead 0·33
Iron 0·09
Chlorine traces
------ 74·66
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