Posted on 03/05/2008 7:15:50 PM PST by blam
Ancient tomb found on Greek island
By NICHOLAS PAPHITIS Associated Press Writer
A partly demolished, 3,000-year-old tomb recently discovered on the western Greek island of Lefkada is seen in this undated hand out photo released by Greek Culture Ministry on Wednesday, March 5, 2008. Archaeologists said the beehive-shaped tomb, which contained several human skeletons and grave offerings, was the first major Mycenaean-era monument to be found on the island.
ATHENS, Greece --Road construction on the western Greek island of Lefkada has uncovered and partially destroyed an important tomb with artifacts dating back more than 3,000 years, officials said on Wednesday.
The find is a miniature version of the large, opulent tombs built by the rulers of Greece during the Mycenaean era, which ended around 1100 B.C. Although dozens have been found in the mainland and on Crete, the underground, beehive-shaped monuments are very rare in the western Ionian Sea islands, and previously unknown on Lefkada.
The discovery could fuel debate on a major prehistoric puzzle - where the homeland of Homer's legendary hero Odysseus was located.
"This is a very important find for the area, because until now we had next to no evidence on Mycenaean presence on Lefkada," excavator Maria Stavropoulou-Gatsi told The Associated Press.
Stavropoulou-Gatsi said the tomb was unearthed about a month ago by a bulldozer, during road construction work.
"Unfortunately, the driver caused significant damage," she said.
She said the tomb contained several human skeletons, as well as smashed pottery, two seal stones, beads made of semiprecious stones, copper implements and clay loom weights. It appeared to have been plundered during antiquity.
With a nine-foot diameter, the tomb is very small compared to others, such as the Tomb of Atreus in Mycenae, which was more than 46 feet across and built of stones weighing up to 120 tons.
But it could revive scholarly debate on the location of Odysseus' Ithaca mentioned in Homer's poems - which are believed to be loosely based on Mycenaean-era events. While the nearby island of Ithaki is generally identified as the hero's kingdom, other theories have proposed Lefkada or neighboring Kefallonia.
Stavropoulou-Gatsi said the discovery might cause excitement on Lefkada but it was too soon for any speculation on Odysseus.
"I think it is much too early to engage in such discussion. The location of Homer's Ithaca is a very complex issue," she said.
GGG Ping.
Odysseus means “stinky” in Greek. I wrote a paper in high school that claimed the adventures of Odysseus were comedy in the modern sense. It’s a collection of drunken stories that a husband tells his wife when he gets home later than planned. “Honestly honey!”
My teacher hated the idea.
Scholarly debates and scientific study of historical sites?
America should be so lucky.
In the USA we have the “Native American Repatriation Act.”
It’s only taken 10 years of court battles to allow scientists to examine “Kennewick Man.”
Or should I say “what’s left of Kennewick man,” since about 20% of his bones have been stolen in the last decade.
οδυσσομαι (odyssomai) which means "to hate".
I know you’re asleep, but BING BANG BOOM do I wanna dig on this!!! :-) I just spoke to Chrissssssteeanah and her boyfriend and they’re doing great, if not liberal...
If anyone was waiting for that road to be completed, I think he’s going to be waiting a long time. A looooong time.
That tomb does look just like those discovered at Mycenae by Schliemann, just smaller. Actually not all that far away tho on an island.
That's brilliant!
Does it really mean that in greek?
Yeah but getting home 20 years late is gonna take a whole lot of explaining. I guess that is how the Iliad got written. Homer wasn’t a blind poet, he was blind drunk.
He could have gone blind drinking the wrong stuff.
Interesting. I was stationed on that island for a year.
Archeologists make historic discovery (Tomb of Odysseus)
The Madera Tribune | 8/27/05 | Thomas Elias
Posted on 09/23/2005 10:37:53 PM EDT by wagglebee
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1490367/posts
[regarding Lefkas]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1490367/posts?page=99#99
Odyssey’s End? The Search for Ancient Ithaca
Smithsonian Magazine | Fergus M. Bordewich, Photographs by Jeffrey Aaronson
Posted on 04/03/2006 12:48:35 AM EDT by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1608118/posts
The Wines And Herbs In The Land Of Pan
Kathimerini | 12-28-2006 | Stavroula Kourakou
Posted on 12/29/2006 7:56:39 PM EST by blam
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1760103/posts
Purging the Classics From the Local Library
American Spectator | 04 Jan 07 | G. Tracy Mehan, III
Posted on 01/04/2007 2:35:12 PM EST by rellimpank
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1762445/posts
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Thanks Blam. |
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Bump for later reading.
http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0002-9475(1906)27%3A1%3C65%3ATEOO%3E2.0.CO%3B2-7
There are many theories none of which are valid. I made mine tongue in cheek, not as literal etymology. I think the best case is “nobody” from “outis”.
If Athena suddenly makes the bones shiny and big...it’s Odysseus!
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