ARCHAEOLOGY. 



ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. 



classic period is the colossal figure of Nike, by 

 Paionios. The round temple built by Phil- 

 ip of Macedon after the battle of Chaoronea 

 stands in a fair state of preservation to the 

 west of the Ileraion. Structures of the Roman 

 period are rotundas, water-works, etc., erected 

 by Antoninus Pius and Herodes Atticus. The 

 Pelopion, or precinct for the worship of the 

 hero Pelops, was marked by no structure ex- 

 cept au entrance-hall at one end. The altar 

 of Zeus, an elliptical ring of rough stones, oc- 

 cupied the very center of the Altis. In the 

 soil around the altar quantities of votive offer- 

 ings in bronze and terra-cotta were found. The 

 Prytaneion, containing the altar of Hestia and 

 the banqueting-hall in which the Olympic 

 victors were feasted, stood at the northwest 

 corner of the Altis. Between the buildings 

 the open spaces were filled with statues, the 

 votive gifts of cities and individuals, and also 

 statues of the victors in the Olympian contests. 

 But few of these remain. 



Outside of the Altis the stadiums, leading to 

 the course of the runners, stood on the east. 

 The starting-place and goal are still in position. 

 All the other contests took place here, except 

 the chariot-races in the Hippodrome, of which 

 no vestiges remain. An edifice consisting of a 

 quadrangular court, approached by two colon- 

 nades, dates from about the same period as the 

 Temple of Zeus. It is supposed to have been 

 the meeting-place of the Olympic Council. A 

 series of fine buildings stood between the Kla- 

 deos and the Altis on the west. A circular 

 building contained an altar with inscriptions to 

 " the hero," referring, undoubtedly, to lanos, 

 and afterward Klytias, founders of the priestly 

 families of diviners which first gave to Olympia 

 its importance. A group of dwellings near by 

 were probably the homes of the priests, and 

 the building whose site was taken for the 

 Byzantine church must have been the assem- 

 bly-hall of the priestly functionaries. To the 

 north were the Palaestra or practice-court for 

 the wrestlers, and the halls where the rhetori- 

 cal declamations were delivered. East of the 

 Byzantine church was the court, surrounded 

 with columns, which is called the Grand Gym- 

 nasium. This was probably the largest and 

 most splendid building in Olympia. 



There have been more than four hundred 

 inscriptions found. Many of them have refer- 

 ence to the visitors at the games, and afford 

 much information regarding the different games. 



The German explorers have also exhumed im- 

 portant remains of the Acropolis at Pergamon, 

 a city of great splendor in post- Alexandrian 

 times. The sculptured ornaments of the great 

 altar, mentioned by ancient writers, have been 

 recovered in a good state of preservation. The 

 principal frieze represents the battle of the gods 

 and giants. This work dates from about 200 

 B. c., the period of the inroads of the Gallic 

 barbarians. The figures are of heroic size, and 

 executed in a free and bold style. The gods 

 are dignified and graceful in attitude and pro- 



portions. In picturing the giants the artist gave 

 free play to an exuberant fancy. Some of them 

 are fine types of nfanly strength and beauty ; 

 others fantastic mixtures of human and mon- 

 strous forms ; some with legs prolonged into 

 serpents; many with one or two pairs of wings; 

 one with a lion's head and mane ; one with the 

 horns and ears of a Triton, and one with the 

 shoulders and hump of a buffalo. Zeus is rep- 

 resented engaged with many foes at once his 

 serpent seizing the heads of two of the hideous 

 serpent- legs, and his aegis heM aloft in his ex- 

 tended right hand. Athene with the gorgonei- 

 on on her breast is dragging a winged youth- 

 ful giant by the hair. Hecate is a singular 

 conception, having three heads and trunks and 

 six arms. Apollo and Dionysos are forms of 

 great beauty. A lovely female figure, engaged 

 in hurling a vase encircled with serpents at a 

 giant, has puzzled all archaeologists. Cybele, 

 riding upon her lion, is armed with a bow. Of 

 the frieze, ninety-four slabs, about three fifths 

 of the whole, have been excavated and sent to 

 Berlin, and with them thirty-four slabs of the 

 smaller frieze, representing scenes from the le- 

 gend of Telephus; and numerous inscriptions, 

 statues, and other relics. 



ARGENTINE REPUBLIC (REpfiBLicA AR- 

 GENTINA). " Our relations with foreign powers 

 will be zealously maintained and fostered by 

 my Government, care being taken to augment 

 and strengthen the bonds of union between 

 this republic and the most advanced nations. 

 It w ; ill be my special endeavor to preserve har- 

 mony with our neighbors, while strictly ab- 

 staining from interference in their internal con- 

 cerns. And as for those with whom, in rela- 

 tion to boundaries, we have difficulties still 

 pending, I shall seek to solve these in a manner 

 worthy of all concerned, without yielding one 

 iota where I understand the dignity, rights, or 

 integrity of the republic to be affected. 1 ' These 

 words, quoted from President Roca's inaugural 

 speech to the Argentine Congress, were spoken 

 on October 12, 1880. Just one year later were 

 exchanged the following notes between the 

 United States Minister at Buenos Ayres and 

 the Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs : 



UNITED STATES LEGATION, October 22d, 11.30 P. M. 



MY DEAR MINISTER : Allow me to offer you my 

 most cordial and sincere congratulations on the final 

 approbation, by the representatives of both countries, 

 of the treaty which is the crowning and most glorious 

 work of your life. It is said that republics do not 

 know the meaning of the word gratitude. It may be 

 so ; but henceforward the two nations can never for- 

 get or cease to feel grateful for what you have done 

 for them in one year 01 patient work and careful 

 thought. Be assured that my Government and the 

 people of the United States will speedily indorse this 

 well-merited recognition of the honor due to you for 

 the glorious peace and prosperity that must inevitably 

 result from your great achievement. I shall take the 

 earliest opportunity of calling on you in person to 

 present my respects and renew my congratulations. 



Your very sincere friend, THOMAS O. OSBORN. 

 BCENOS AYRES, October 22d. 



MY DEAR MINISTER : A thousand thanks for the very 

 kind note you have sent me. I prize it extremely, 



