Page:History of Art in Sardinia, Judæa, Syria and Asia Minor Vol 2.djvu/272

 2 54 A History of Art in Sardinia and Jud^a. field of their observations has been greatly enlarged.^ Critical inquiry has likewise thrown side-lights on the obscure chapter of history relating to the tribes which the early Greek colonists found everywhere established in the land ; with whom they gradually entered into intercourse, be it with the occupiers of the plains or the dwellers of the central plateau. If it is little to have dis- covered, we may lay this unction to our hearts, that at one time nobody dreamt we should achieve as much. Consequently, we may hope that the thick curtain which conceals mysteries which it would be interesting to unravel may yet at some future time be rolled aside. Was the Hittite system of writing elaborated west of the Taurus range, and was it of such a nature as to entitle its inventors to be considered as a civilized and civilizing race ? Did the princes of Carchemish and Kadesh extend their dominion as far as the bay of Smyrna, as numberless small objects seem to imply, especially the rupesque sculptures on Mount Tmolus, and the no less remarkable specimens encountered in the stretches of Lycaonia, one and all accompanied by the peculiar characters which occur on the monuments of their ancient centres ? Do the carved rocks of Anatolia, cylinders and puppet-gods, bear witness to a successful invasion, or are they the natural result of a great military power firmly implanted on either side of the Taurus range, whose influence was felt by semi-barbarous tribes at distances greatly removed from the seat of government ? Finally, did the civilization of Northern Syria and Pteria, directly or indirectly, through the Lycians, Carians, Phrygians, and Lydians, furnish elements to Greece which the latter, with her usual readiness, transfused into her myths, religious rites, and forms of expression, be it in her plastic art or mode of thought ? Such are some of the questions which present themselves to the mind, but to which it is not easy to give positive answers ; we will therefore restrict ourselves to pointing out solutions which seem to coincide with the mass of evidence which lies before us. Among modern scholars who have interested themselves about the Hittites, the first place should be assigned to Professor Sayce, for the degree of energy, acumen, and enthusiasm which he has carried into the question. He inclines to the belief that the Hittites did not belong to the Semitic stock; but were one of ^ We take this opportunity to acknowledge our indebtedness to M. Lenormant's work, entitled, "Les Inscriptions Hittiques" {Journal de$ Savants^ 1.883, PP- 4^-0-4 17).