Tiryns. The Prehistoric Palace of the Kings of Tiryns. The Results of the Latest Excavations by Schliemann, Heinrich (Henry) [1822–1890] - 1885

lxiv+385 pages with fold out frontispiece, 27 colored plates (many folding), figures, maps (many folding and index. Quarto (10 1/4 x 7 1/2") bound in red decorative gilt cover and gilt decorative spine with gilt lettering, head end pages gilt. First American edition.

Heinrich Schliemann was a businessman and self-taught archaeologist who is best known for discovering the legendary city of Troy. Inspired by his belief in the veracity of the Homeric poems, Schliemann turned his attention to uncovering other cities mentioned in the Iliad. This volume provides an account in English of his excavations in 1884-1885 at Tiryns, a major Bronze Age city and centre of Mycenaean civilisation. These revealed a palace complex at the site, which was the most complete example of its kind until Evans' excavation of Knossos; examples of Minoan art found at Tiryns were the first demonstration of Mycenaean contact with the Minoan culture of Crete. The topography and history of the site and its artefacts are described, together with detailed discussion of the palace, and a description of Schliemann's controversial excavation methods. This volume remains an important source for the historiography of archaeology.

Description:

Corners gently bumped and rubbed, spine ends rubbed with some slight fraying, front end paper torn and lacking two thirds, second front end paper with previous owner's name in neat script, some foxing through out else a good to very good copy.