Archaeology and Heinrich Schliemann 2012

8Schliemann’s Mycenae Albums 1Sinclair HoodThese three large Albums contain a record of archaeologicalwork done by Schliemann at Tirynsand Mycenae in 1876. 2 The bulk of the contents consistsof photographs; but Schliemann also inserted theoriginals of the plans made for him, together withwater-colours of pottery, figurines and other findsfrom his excavations, and the oil-painting of the ‘mummy’from Mycenae Shaft Grave V. These photographs,plans and paintings were reproduced as line drawingsin Schliemann’s publication of the results of his workwhich appeared first in English two years later. 3The writing of the captions to the photographs,and on some of the paintings and plans, appears to bein Schliemann’s hand and is in English with a littleGreek. The English is remarkably good and correct,apart from a few slight spelling mistakes and somecurious expressions and turns of phrase. The scales,meticulously given in English for the photographs ofobjects from the Mycenae Shaft Graves, are supplementedby ones written in Greek with a finer pen andin a very neat hand which may still be that of Schliemann.The ‘Mycenaean Diary’ which Schliemannkept from 5 th August to 28 th November, 1876, while hewas working at Mycenae, is also in English. 4 Schliemannmay well have felt that the results of his archaeologicalwork were received with more interest andtreated with more sympathy and respect in Englandthan in his own country. 5 At the same time he wasproud of his American citizenship: ‘Citizen of theUnited States of America’ appears immediately afterhis name and before a list of his previous archaeologicalpublications on the title page of Mycenae.The preface to Mycenae was contributed by theEnglish statesman and Homeric scholar, W. E. Gladstone.On April 27 th , 1877, Schliemann wrote Gladstonefrom London asking him for a preface ‘at the suggestionof our mutual friend Mr Murray’ the publisher. 6Gladstone obliged with thirty six pages of print, althoughhe begins by stating that ‘It has been withmuch reluctance that, at the persevering request ofDr Schliemann, I have undertaken to write a Prefaceto his Mycenaean volume’ (Schliemann 1878, v). EvenSchliemann’s capacity for perseverance might havefailed of success if Gladstone had been at the time PrimeMinister of England. But this was during the gapbetween his first term as Prime Minister, which endedin 1874, and his second which only began in 1880.The Mycenae Albums measure about 422 mm inlength by about 350 mm in width. All three are boundin dark green cloth with matching leather corners andspine. MYCENAE is stamped in gold letters on thespine of each volume with the number of the Album1. Schliemann’s Mycenae Albums and their contents are nowthe property of the National Library of Scotland, whichacquired them in August 2008, from the Knossos Trust towhich I had given them in 1990. They are in the charge ofDavid McClay, Curator of the John Murray Archive in theNational Library. I am grateful to the Trustees of theNational Library of Scotland for permission to publish thispaper with photos of some of the contents of the Albums.With a few minor changes and additions this is the paperas I gave it at the Conference held in Athens in 1990 tomark the centenary of Schliemann’s death. At that timethere were many unjustified accusations being madeagainst Schliemann based upon his well-known penchantfor describing events in his private life, which either neverhappened, or not as he described them. Hence the detailedaccount here of the visit of the Emperor of Brazil to Schliemannin London, derived from the Times Court Circular ofthe day. I am grateful to Professor George Korres and DrNektarios Karadimas for the opportunity to resurrect thispaper. Mrs Rosemary Ostley has kindly typed it for me. Iam most grateful to her, and also to Mr Jonathan Dudley,who from my rather poor colour slide has produced a copyof the supposed ‘mummy’ from Shaft Grave V at Mycenae,made for Schliemann by a local artist while it was in situbefore removal to the National Museum in Athens.2. For a previous description of the Albums, see Hood 1960.3. Schliemann 1878.4. Calder III and Traill (eds), 1986, 142-228.5. Traill 1986, 136.6. Meyer 1958, 68 no. 36.