SICILIAN RELICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 260, 2 November 1929, Page 11 (Supplement)

SICILIAN RELICS.

Hi/lERA'S ANCIENT TREASURES

SCENE OF MANY CONQUESTS.

HANNIBAL'S VENGEANCE

Himera, the celebrated city on the north coast of Sicily, which was founded by the Chalcidians of Zancle in 648 B.C. and afterwards received Dorion settlers, so that the inhabitants spoke a dialect partly lonic and partly Doric, is being excavated.

Its history was linked with that of Agrigentum, on the south coast, as in 560 B.C. Himera placed itself under the protection of Phlaris, the tyrant of that city. While the temples of Agrigentum have been restored during the last decade, interest in Himera had never led to any excavations for treasures. There remained standing the ruins of one Doric temple. Other sections of the city were built over. During building operations vases, bronzes, funeral urns and coins were discovered, which are now in the museums of Palermo or Termini. From the coins one could see that art was not dead in that prosperous city of twenty-three centuries ago. The treasures buried on the height above the Buonfornello were never touched. When, some forty years ago, the Palmero Messina Bailway was being built portions of Doric columns were used to strengthen the bridges.

Scene of Many Battles. Himera was the prize in. many a campaign! for conquest. In 500 it was occupied by the tyrant Terillus, who had been expelled from Agrigentum by Theron. Though the city was protected by massive walla which slipped down to the sea, he called for help to Carthage. A large force under Hamilcar attacked the Sicilian Greeks, who had joined forces with Gelon, the tyrant of Syracuse, whom Theron of Agrigentum had called into help against the Carthaginians, who were 300,000 strong. Hamilcar was killed and few of his force lived to return to Carthage. Himera thus remained as part of Agrigentum, and Theron sent his eon there to rule. But the people rebelled. The leaders were put to death and the majority of the population were exiled. To people the city, Theron sent new settlers, principally those of Dorie origin. With the death of Theron Himera recovered its independence, as his son, Thrasydaeus, was defeated by Hieron of Syracuse. Government Clears Site.

Himera once again was taken in 409 B.C. and razed by Hannibal in order to avenge the earlier defeat of the Carthaginians. While the city was never rebuilt, Augustus founded a colony theru near the famous warm springs. The present excavations are beifng undertaken near the Doric Temple, which was dedicated to Minerva, which ancient writers tell us was known to have been the most, beautiful in Sicily. The work is being financed jointly by the Bank of Sicily, the Magna Grecia Society and Commendatore Gualino, a Milanese patron of a'/t. Professor Pirro Marconi, director of the Palermo Museum, is in charge. The government has ordered the expropriation of the houses which cover the site. • So far the pronaos has neen excavated and the walls of cella or centre enclosure have been reached. A number of broken columns have been unearthed as well as a great deal of the base and the facings of the walls, the architrave, frieze and cornice. It is believed possible that the temple soon can be restored partially. Gargoyles Discovered.

Fragments of life-size statues which adorned the portico also have been found. The most important discoveryis that decorated water spouts of lions' heads have been taken out intact. They retain the colouring, blue on the manes and red on the jaws and ears, placed there so many centuries ago. They are considered by experts to be the finest specimens of this art excavated in Sicily. During tha summer months the excavations havo been suspended, but will be resumed in the autumn. There is much to be found, Professor Marconi believes. Cicero speaks of it as a centre of the arts.