1952–April 1953

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… publication. I was elected (by a vote of 2 to 1) to write to Fales; will ask him to send the books plans etc. to the Museum in time for Benson to bring with him. In the Curium drawers there are microfilms of these books which were paid for by Fales, so I guess he has a right to them if he wants them. His address is Dumbarton Oaks Research Library, Georgetown, Wash. D.C. in case you need to write him to spur on the return of the books. In connection with this, it seemed best to all 3 that the Bamboula books, which Saul will bring back next month, should then remain in Phila. for the present, or until someone else is found to do the pottery part of the business. George has also completed a MS on the Curium gold scepter tomb, which he is to send to BHH for stamp of approval, then to you. You are expected to lend it to Brandon Barringer, for the ghost-writers of the Satevepost to do their worst by, and after they have finished it is to go to A.J.A. or some serious publication - or, if it seems best to you & Fro, it could come out as a Curium Museum monograph. I guess that George will write to you direct about it. He may write something else (either because of forgetfulness or change of mind) but that is what he said in person. Doesn't think he will get here this year. Found Hiran in Athens; she should get here next week.

Back to London: in B.M. saw, as I expected I would, original of relief of which a cast exists in Penn. gym, about which I was asked. You might tell Mr. LUEHRING in the gym., who has the cast and asked about it, if you get a chance, that this is what the label in the B.M. says: Athenian relief in honour of Bendis (a dedicatory inscription was probably cut on the base which supported the relief). A relay team of 8 torch-racers, led by their patron & trainer, approach the goddess, who pours a drink offering as a sign of good will. The patron carries a racing torch & the first athlete a strigil. Bendis was a Thracian goddess whose cult was established in Piraeus about 430 B.C.; she was identified with Artemis. Torch races on horseback were originally a feature of her ritual, as we … continues