History of the recent discoveries at Cyrene
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Release date is 2026-04-16
Galo Flordelis (This file was produced from images generously made available by Google and The Internet Archive/Getty Research Institute) Galo Flordelis (This file was produced from images generously made available by Google and The Internet Archive/Getty Research Institute)
"History of the recent discoveries at Cyrene" by Smith and Porcher is an archaeological expedition report and travel narrative written in the mid-19th century. It documents a British-led exploration of the Cyrenaica, detailing the planning, overland journey, and systematic excavations at Cyrene and nearby sites, along with descriptions of statues, inscriptions, and topography. The work also situates the finds within earlier scholarship and the long history of the region.
The opening of the book sets the scene: a preface explains why the Cyrenaica, despite its beauty, remains little visited, noting that most of Cyrene’s grandeur lies buried, and reviews earlier travellers while stating the authors’ aim to focus on new excavations and clear documentation. A compact historical compendium follows, tracing Cyrene from its Dorian foundation and the Battid kings through constitutional reforms, Persian entanglements, Ptolemaic and Roman rule, subsequent decline, and eventual Arab and Ottoman control, with notes on borders, notable thinkers, geography, and products like silphium. The narrative then turns to preparations: reasons for attempting the expedition, anticipated obstacles (terrain, transport, Bedouin politics), official permissions from British and Ottoman authorities, and a practical outfit list. The journey begins with a passage to Tripoli, brief observations on the city and its garrison, and then to Benghazi, chosen as the operational base over Derna. There the authors secure cooperation from local sheikhs rather than a Turkish escort, assemble supplies and “bakshish,” and visit the necropolis and a cavern long associated with the legendary Lethe. Finally, they set out by caravan through winter storms, ascend the Augubah, and reach Merdj (Barca), where the hospitable Mudir hosts them and they describe the fort and fertile plain before resuming the march toward Cyrene. (This is an automatically generated summary.)