THE RECENTLY DISCOVERED TOMB-TEMPLES AT SIDON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8082, 24 September 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE RECENTLY DISCOVERED TOMB-TEMPLES AT SIDON.

The news has just reached us of the discovery of a very perfect and beautiful Greek tomb-temple near Sldon. The American missionary, the Rev. W. K. Eddy, is the happy finder of it; and from his account, it may very likely prove of value both artistically and archa3ologically. His observations were made hurriedly and under dfficult circumstances, and it will be the fortune of others to ba able thoroughly to explore and bring to light the treasures of the temple, but to Mr. Eddy belongs the honour of having found it out. It lies about a mile from Sidon, towards the north-east of the town, and is reached by a shaft thirty feet square and from thirty five to forty feet deep. Apparently at this depth, Mr. Eddy and his excavating party came upon four doors, made in the perpendicular walls, and leading into four different chambers, the doors being opposite each other. They entered the south room first, and there found a chamber about fifteen feet square, cut out of the solid rock. In this, standing side by Bide, were two sarcophagi, one with a peaked lid and very plain, of black marble ; the other of immense size, and of the most beautiful white marble. This latter sarcophagus was eleven feet long, five feet wide, and twelve feet high, and was constructed of two solid pieces of marble. The top formed an arch, which was divided into two panels at the back and front. From the sides sprang four lions' heads. On each panel, with uplifted wings and facing towards each other, was an animal with the head of an eagle. On the front was a fallen warrior staggering to defend himself by a shield from two centaurs. The sides were also covered with figures of horses, human beings, a hyena, and other animals. At the back were birds with extended wings, but with men's —centaurs again; and a band of figures—evidenty a hunting scene. Of course the tomb had been rifled, though not much damaged ; and three skeletons and five long-nosed dogs' heads were all that was found in it.

In the eastern chamber were also two sarcophagi—a small, very simple one, and another larger and more ornamented. This chamber appeared to be a lovely lifctle Greek temple, constructed of white marble, and described by Mr. Eddy as " translucent as alabaster." The roof slants, and has tiles represented in carving upon it, "strips of metal covering the joints, and pretty carved knobs where these strips crossed the ridge." This temple appears to be full of carving, and, wonderful to relate, in perfect preservation. The body of the chamber has a*' porch of columns" all around it, and between these stand eighteen little statues of white marble, each about three feet high, looking as bright and fresh as if straight from the artist's studio. Upon the upper part of the sarcophagus is represented a funeral procession, the car with the body resting upon itsome figures expressive of deep grief—and two riderless horses. Needless to say, this tomb also has been robbed, the top right-hand corner having been broken open for that purpose. The north chamber contains one plain sarcophagus. In the west room are four sarcophagi, one of which appears to have been very beautiful indeed. It is made of marble like the others,' and covered over with sculptured figures covered with paint, and many exquisite designs. In fact, it seems to be a perfect specimen of the highest Greek art.

Apparently, there are no inscriptions to tell us who built these tomb-temples, or whose bodies were here laid to rest amid such artistic surroundings. Judging from the money which must have been lavished upon them they were the burying.places of persons of rank and wealth ; though why one or two of the sarcophagi are so extremely plain it is difficult to say. We can only hope that the party gone, with Professor Porter and Fieher, from Beyrout to thoroughly inspect these tomb-temples with magnesian light will find a clue to their history. It cannot fail to be most interesting, and we are eagerly waiting for their report.—Chamber's Journal,