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001 78462
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010 _a04007603
040 _aUtSlPG
041 7 _aen
_2iso639-1
050 4 _aDT
100 1 _aSmith, R. Murdoch
_q(Robert Murdoch),
_d1835-1900
245 1 0 _aHistory of the recent discoveries at Cyrene
264 1 _aSalt Lake City, UT :
_bProject Gutenberg,
_c2026
300 _a1 online resource :
_bmultiple file formats
336 _atext
_btxt
_2rdacontent
337 _acomputer
_bc
_2rdamedia
338 _aonline resource
_bcr
_2rdacarrier
500 _aRelease date is 2026-04-16
508 _aGalo Flordelis (This file was produced from images generously made available by Google and The Internet Archive/Getty Research Institute)
520 _a"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.)
534 _pOriginally published:
_cLondon: Day & son, 1864
653 _aLibya -- Description and travel
653 _aCyrene (Extinct city)
653 _aExcavations (Archaeology) -- Libya -- Cyrene (Extinct city)
653 _aLibya -- Antiquities
700 1 _aPorcher, Edwin A.,
_d1824-1878
700 1 _aSchroff, Carl D., Ritter von
_q(Carl Damian),
_d1802-1887
856 4 _uhttps://archive.org/details/gri_33125010873798
856 4 0 _uhttps://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/78462
999 _c119181
_d119181