Some of the extent of Victorian archaeology and historical discoveries can be discerned by this section, which brings accounts of find upon find. One of the more interesting pieces covers the discovery, in the early 19th century, of what is perhaps one of the most iconic pieces of Greek sculpture: the Venus de Milo (or Melos). The article on "The So-Called Venus of Melos" reveals some of the challenges archaeologists and historians face in reconstructing the history of the ancient world. I'm also including some articles on Turkey, which had a number of ancient Greek settlements whose exploration should properly be considered Greek archaeology.

Funeral of Alexander the Great (Godey's, 1833)

Venus of Milo, by M.D. Ruff (St. Nicholas, 1875)

Oriental and Early Greek Sculpture (Century Magazine, 1882A)

In this case "Oriental" refers to Egyptian and Assyrian sculpture.

Athena Parthenos (Harper's Monthly, 1882A)

The discovery of a model of the statue of Athena Parthenos, and the history of its sculptor.

The So-Called Venus of Melos (Century Magazine, 1882A)

On the discovery of the Venus de Milo, with some discussion of how the missing limbs might have been arranged.

The Temple of Diana at Ephesus, by J.T. Wood (Girl's Own Paper, 1882)

An account of archaeological excavations at the temple in Turkey.

Sculptures of the Great Pergamon Altar, by Lucy M. Mitchell (Century Magazine, 1883A)

The Pergamon Altar is a monumental construction built during the reign of Greek King Eumenes II in the first half of the 2nd century BC on one of the terraces of the acropolis of the ancient Greek city of Pergamon in Asia Minor. At the time of this article the pieces were housed in the Berlin Museum; in 1901 a museum was built especially for the altar, and then rebuilt in 1909.

The Frieze of the Parthenon, by Charles Waldstein (Century Magazine, 1884A)

The Metopes of the Parthenon, by Charles Waldstein (Century Magazine, 1884B)

An examination of the Lapiths and Centaurs carvings on the Parthenon.

The Lesson of Greek Art, by Charles Waldstein (Century Magazine, 1886A)

“On the one hand, it was the adequate expression of the very best that the intellectual life of the people could offer, the highest and deepest of their thought; and, on the other hand, its expressions were intelligible to the lowliest and humblest of Greek citizens.” This is the beginning of a lengthy series on Greek art and sculpture that we have chosen not to include on the site.

American Explorers in Assos, by F.H. Bacon (Century Magazine, 1886B)

A look at antiquities in Greece.

Domestic Life in Classic Times: Women of Greece, by E.F. Bridell-Fox (Girl's Own Paper, 1887)

The Coinage of the Greeks, by William J. Stillman (Century Magazine, 1887A)

The Temple of the Ephesian Artemis and the Ancient Silver Patera from Bernay by Charles Waldstein (Century Magazine, 1887A)

More discoveries at Ephesus in Turkey.

A Side Light on Greek Art: Some of the Newly Discovered Terra Cottas, by Charles de Kay (Century Magazine, 1890A)

Did the Greeks Paint Their Sculptures? by Edward Robinson (Century Magazine, 1892A)

In a word, yes.

The Finding of the Tomb of Aristotle, by Charles Waldstein (Century Magazine, 1892B)

The Juno of Argos, by Charles Waldstein (Century Magazine, 1893B)

A recent archaeological discovery by the American School of Classical Studies in Athens.

Two Dozen Greek Coins, by Edward L. Cutts (English Illustrated Magazine, 1895A)

The Old Olympic Games, by Allan Marquand (Century Magazine, 1896A)

A summary of the history of the original Olympic games, in view of the recent revival of the games in Athens.

The Seven Wonders of the World, by Benjamin Ide Wheeler (Century Magazine, 1898B)

A look at the historic seven wonders of the world, including the statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Colossus of Rhodes, and Alexander's Mausoleum.

• See also The Victorian World: Greece & Cyprus