Orchomenos

In the winter of 1880-1881, the wealthy German businessman and self-taught archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann (1822-1890) embarked on a new project, to excavate the 'Treasury of Minyas' at Orchomenos. He was accompanied by his wife and by the distinguished Oxford Assyriologist A. H. Sayce. This book, published in 1881, begins with a vivid description of the journey from Athens to Orchomenos, through gorges and swamps, and across mountain passes. Schliemann mentions earlier attempts to excavate the 'treasury' (actually a Mycenaean beehive tomb), the difficulty of the terrain, and how he engaged over 100 local people to assist in the removal of earth and stones from a large area. He lists pottery, artefacts and stone implements, and gives detailed measurements of walls, towers and gates. The book includes drawings of sculpted decorations including rosettes and spirals, and the texts of classical Greek inscriptions found at Orchomenos and at nearby Copae.