Chapter I: Preface

The series of papers herewith committed to the more or less permanent condition of book form were originally (less some development of their arguments) printed in the _Century_ magazine, being the results of an exploring visit to Greek lands taken as a commission for that periodical. I have sought in them to solve, in a popular form, certain problems in archæology which seemed to me to have that romantic interest which is necessary to general human interest; and while necessarily, in such a study, dealing much with conjecture, I have not ventured to assume anything which I am not satisfied is true. The problem of the so-called Venus of Melos is one of those which archæology has fretted over for two generations, and I cannot pretend to have offered a solution which will command assent from the severely scientific archæologist; but I have an interior conviction, stronger than any authority of ancient tradition to my own mind, that that solution is the true one. I do not wish it to be judged as a demonstration, but as an induction in which a kind of artistic instinct, not communicable or equally valuable to all people, has had the greatest part; and, for the rest, I am satisfied to let it be taken by the rule of “highest probability,” by which we solve to our satisfaction, more or less complete, problems of the gravest importance—a rule, indeed, which is for many such the only standard of truth. In archæology, as in some other inexact sciences, opinion has with most people greater weight than it always merits, but it should have weight in proportion to the knowledge its originator may have of his subject. As to this I have done all that any man can to penetrate to the material which exists for forming an opinion, and I rest in the sincere conviction, sustained through a study of many years, that the so-called Venus of Melos is really the Niké Apteros of the restored temple dedicated to that goddess.

I must acknowledge the courtesy of the proprietors of the _Century_ magazine in according me the use of the admirable illustrations accompanying my text, which were put on the blocks by Harry Fenn from my own sketches or photographs.

W. J. STILLMAN.

New York, _September, 1887_.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

ON THE TRACK OF ULYSSES 1

THE ODYSSEY, ITS EPOCH AND GEOGRAPHY 50

THE SO-CALLED VENUS OF MELOS 75

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE
The Route of Ulysses 1
Ithaca and adjoining Islands 3
West Coast of Scheria 8
Greek Boats and Rostrum of Roman Galley 13
Corfu, from the King’s Garden 14
Port of Phorcys and Neriton, from the Mouth of Ulysses’ Cave 28
Raven’s Cliff and the Fountain of Arethusa 34
The Site of Ithaca—Port Polis 36
Inscription found at Polis 39
The School of Homer 43
View of Samé from the West,—with parts of Pelasgic and Hellenic Walls
58
Crané from the Sea Shore 60
Distant View of Palé from the Citadel of Crané 63
Zante 64
Citadel of Cerigo 67
Landing-Place of the Cyprian Aphrodite or Astarte 73
The so-called Venus of Melos 82
Street in Castro 84
The Site of Old Melos, from the Port 85
Medicean Venus 88
Venus Urania 88
Capitoline Venus 88
Venus of the Vatican 89
Venus Anadyomene 89
Venus Victrix of the Louvre 89
Venus of Capua 90
Restoration of the Statue as proposed by Mr. Tarral 90
Fragments found at Melos attributed to the Statue 91
Victory of Brescia (Front) 92
Victory of Brescia (Side) 92
Victory raising an Offering (Temple of Niké Apteros, the Acropolis,
Athens) 93
Victory untying her Sandal (Temple of Niké Apteros, the Acropolis,
Athens) 96
Victories leading a Bull to Sacrifice (Temple of Niké Apteros, the
Acropolis, Athens) 97
The so-called Venus of Melos (Front) 99
The “Venus” Restored (Front. Traced from a Photograph of a living
Model) 99
The “Venus” Restored (Side. Traced from a Photograph of a living
Model) 100
The so-called Venus of Melos (Side) 100
Victory of Consani 104
Temple of Niké Apteros 105
Greek Coin 106

ON THE TRACK OF ULYSSES.