ACCOUNTS, ESTIMATES, &C. OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. I7 



In those excavations, Mr. Dennis failed at first to find interesting antiquities, but shortly 

 after he had left Teuchira, a remarkable discovery was made there. Within a peribolos or 

 precinct, just outside the city wall, was a group of graves, in which were five very remark- 

 able Panathenaic amphorce, all of which Mr. Dennis secured for the National Collection. 



These vases may be termeci pseudo-archaic in style, inasmuch as they are known 10 be 

 as late as the age of Alexander the Great, but have black figures, imitated from the old 

 vases, painted on them. 



Such amphora are of extreme rarity. One of tiiose obtained by Mr. Dennis is inscribed 

 with the name of the Athenian archon, Polyzelos, whose date is B.C. 367; another bears the 

 name of the potter, Kittop. 



On all these amphorce the figure of Athene is painted on one side, and on the reverse are 

 groups representing public games. On the buckler of Athene, on one of these vases, are 

 two figures, in which have been recognized Harmodius and Aristogeilon, as thov were 

 represented in a celebrated bronze group at Athens. See Friederichs iiber Harmodius 

 und Aristogeiton in Gerhard's Denkin'aler u. Forschungen, 1859, p. 66. 



Mr. Dennis also acquired for the Museum a very interesting collection of vases and 

 terra-cottas of the finest period of Greek art. Of these the most remarkable is a hydria, 

 or water pitcher, with red figures on a dark ground representing Hercules in the Garden 

 of the Hesperides. 



This vase is remarkable for the beauty of the drawing. There are also several small 

 vases, with polychrome designs drawn with great delicacy. Tliis class of vases is 

 particularly rare. One of the subjects represents Dauae leceiving the shower of gold. 

 Among the terra-cotta figures are several remarkable for beauty of modelling and for their 

 admirable condition. 



Excavations at Ephesits. — In the course of the past year Mr. Wood has continued the 

 excavations at Ephesus on account of the Tru>tees. On tlie site of the Odeum he has 

 found various fragments of inscriptions on thin slabs of marble, which, on being put 

 together, proved to be portions of four Imperial Rescripts. Three were addressed by 

 the Emperor Antoninus Fius to the people of Ephesus. Two of these bear the date 

 A.D. 145, the other, the date a.d. 150. 



The two earlier Rescripts relate to the services rendered to the city of Ephesus by Publius 

 Vedius Antoninus, who was the ypafxnaTivg or secretary of the city at the date of the 

 Rescript. In one of these documents is mention of Sulpicius Julianus, an Imperial 

 Procurator. The fourth Rescript discovered by Mr. Wood is addressed by the Emperor 

 Hadrian to the people of Ephesus. 



On the site of the Great Theatre, Mr. Wood found the following sculptures: — 



(1,) A male torso under life size, piobably of a Silenus; of the Roman period. At 

 the side of this figure is sculptured a curious vase which rests on a stand, apparently 

 meant to represent a tripod of metal. On the top of the vase is a phiale, in winch are 

 a phallus and a cresctnt. 



(2.) Part of a frieze, on which is sculptured a boy in high relief. This is also of 

 the Roman period, 



Mr. Wood has also found in the Great Theatre the fragment of a Constitutio or law 

 relating to the alimony of iniants, in which reference is made to a previous Consiitutio made 

 by Vedius Pollio, probably, the hi5.torical personage of that name who lived in the time of 

 Augustus. 



He further discovered a row of tombs which mark the direction of an ancient way 

 leading to the city from the south-east. One of these tombs bears the name of Tvi. 

 Calpurnius Rufus, Prsetoiial legale of Cyprus, Pontus, Bithynia, and the Province of Asia. 

 On another tomb is the name of M. Helvius Geminus, Imperial Proprajtor of Asia ; on a 

 third, that of Metrodmus, an Ephebarch. A fourth tomb is that of a lictor of the 

 Proconsul, Fonleius Agrippa, and in the same row was an altar dedicated bv Carinas, 

 Tabularius of the Province of Asia; and a sarcophagus enriched with decorations of a 

 late period. 



In a building near the Odeum, Mr. Woiid found 80 fragn:ients of inscriptions, which 

 appear to have fallen from the walls on to the floor. 



Among the objects purchased at the sale of Signor Castellani's antiquities at Paris, the 

 following are the most remarkable: — 



(1.) A bronze figure of Pomona, or the Autumn, holding in her lap n quantity of 

 fruits. This bronze, which is 1-2^ in. in height, is in fine condition, and a good speci- 

 men of Roman art. It was found near Padua. 



(2.) Silver cover of a mirror case, on which are, embossed in relief Bacchus, a winded 

 figure, and Silenus playing on the double flute. 



(3.) A small amber box, probably part of a Roman lady's toilet service. The outside 

 is richly sculptured with reliefs, representing winged genii and Bacchic emblems. 

 This beautiful and unique specimen of carving in amber was found at Aquileia. 



249. c 4 A collection 



