No. 161.
Mr. Read to Mr. Evarts.

No. 276.]

Sir: M. Stephen Coumanoudis, the learned secretary of the Archaeological Society of Athens, having heard that an inscribed stone belonging to some ancient monument was lying neglected on the right bank of the Ilissus, southwest of the temple of Jupiter Olympius, hastened to the spot yesterday and, to his delight, discovered the remains of a marble altar with the following words:

This monument upon his advent to power Peisistratus the son of Hippias has dedicated in the temple of Apollo Pythias.

This is the identical monument mentioned by Thucydides as having been erected by Peisistratus, son of Hippias, and grandson of the tyrant Peisistratus; and this is the original inscription which the great historian thought worthy of being transferred to his immortal work. (See book vi, chap. 54.)

It is especially worthy of note that the letters which Thucydides mentions as obscure, are indeed roughly and feebly cut, and that, as in all the Attic inscriptions before the time of Eucleides, instead of H there is E, and instead of the diphthong OV there is the simple O, and Y instead of YI. The discovery of this remarkable stone fixes the site of the temple of Apollo Pythias, which was hitherto unknown. This very important monument has been purchased by the Archaeological Society and will be immediately transferred to the museum of Varvakion.

I have, &c.

JOHN MEREDITH READ.