648 TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION H. 
rivets on to the front of fibule. The subjects represented on them comprise male, 
or female, winged figures grasping birds, a warrior stabbing a .gorgon, a dead man 
on a bier, a ship with full rigging and crew, sphinxes, a man on horseback, and 
others. Jewellery, engraved gems, terra-cotta figurines, some representing prob- 
ably the image of the goddess, fragments of terra-cotta masks, and other objects 
were also found. The occurrence of amber, in view of the northern origin of the 
Dorians and its rarity on classical sites, is of great interest. 
Thus the cult of Orthia began in the earliest times with a large altar. This 
altar was covered up when the temple corresponding to it was destroyed in the 
sixth century and a new temple built a little way off. In Hellenistic times this 
temple was rebuilt, but lasted on, on the same site, until the end of paganism. 
Under the late empire it was surrounded by a theatre, from which the rites per- 
formed in front of it could be conveniently witnessed. The altar always was in 
the same place, which it occupied with ever-rising level for at least 1100 years. 
(2) The sanctuary of Athena Chalkioikos was found behind the theatre on the 
Acropolis Hill. A mass of geometric pottery shows that this sanctuary also goes 
back to a very early period. The building itself was much destroyed, but the finds 
were important. A very fine Panathenaic amphora, bronze statuettes, and a large 
archaic inscription were found. 
(3) The work of tracing the course of the ancient city wall was continued. 
This has again been done largely by the discovery of tiles stamped with the infor- 
mation that they were public tiles used for the walls. The name of the tyrant 
Nabis found on some of them connects the building of the wall with him. Ina 
few places the actual wall has been found with remains of towers. 
In looking for the Agora some Hellenistic tombs were found, well built of 
ashlar, and containing vases and discs of stout gold-leaf chased with patterns of 
wreaths and flying birds. 
The other members of the expedition were Messrs. G, Dickins, J. P. Droop, 
H. J. W. Tillyard, A. J. B. Wace, and A. Woodward. The architectural draw- 
ing was undertaken by Mr. George, and the survey work by Mr. W. Sejk. 
3. Artemis Orthia and the Scourging Festival at Sparta. 
By Professor R. C. Bosanquer, I/.A., F.S.A. 
The excavations of the British School at Sparta have shown that the altar in 
the precinct of Artemis Orthia beside the Eurotas occupied the same position for 
more than a thousand years. This was the altar before which the Spartan youths 
were scourged, and from it the youth who outdid all others took the title of 
Bomonikes, or Victor at the Altar. It has always been assumed that this custom, 
described in detail by Roman writers, was a survival from the days of Spartan 
independence. Recent writers have compared it with the ordeals which, among 
primitive peoples, are sometimes imposed upon lads as an initiation into the 
privileges of manhood. But an examination of the passages relating to the custom 
shows that it did not take shape until after the decline of the Lacedzemonian State. 
(1) In the fourth century B.c., when we have the first mention of whipping in 
connection with the sanctuary of Orthia, a rough game was played there in which 
the young Spartans had to snatch cheeses (no doubt the offerings at a festival) 
from the altar, while others armed with whips tried to beat them off. The 
element of passive endurance, so characteristic of the later ordeal, is entirely 
wanting. 
(2) This game may have been developed out of a custom, for which there are 
many parallels, of the lads striking one another for luck with boughs cut from the 
sacred tree, the Agnus Castus, which grew in the river bed, and under which the 
image of the goddess had been discovered. 
(8) In the latter part of the third and first half of the second centuries B.c. 
there was a complete break in Spartan traditions. Revolutions, proscriptions, and 
other internal disorders alternated with disastrous campaigns. Upon the restora- 
tion of the Spartan constitution under Roman protection, there was an artificial 
