Archaeology in Greece, 1894–5

Extract

The excavations between the Pnyx and the Areopagus, made by the German School under the direction of Professor Dörpfeld, have been continued once more during the present season. In consequence of the great interest of the topographical problems involved, it was decided last year that the site should be expropriated by the Greek government, and thus the excavators are no longer hampered by the necessity of piling up the earth near at hand, so that it could be put back again if required. The liberal subvention made by the German government to its School was supplemented this year by private subscriptions, for the purpose of these excavations, and consequently it was possible to continue them for a considerable time, and to clear a large area. Unfortunately it has hitherto proved impossible to divert the modern road, which runs right through the site, and conceals the place where Professor Dörpfeld supposes that the fountain Enneacrunus once stood. Until this also can be removed, we can hardly expect to arrive at certainty on the point.

Under these circumstances, the confirmation or refutation of Dr. Dörpfeld's theories of Athenian topography in this region has still to depend on the evidence offered by the surrounding buildings. Here too nothing decisive has yet been found, though many very interesting discoveries have been made, which are cited with great ingenuity by Professor Dörpfeld as tending to corroborate his theory.