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Sent from Athens, where John and Hilda were in quarantine for mumps having just returned from a cruise of Greek islands during which the hostess’ son [Bobby Emmett] had the illness. Telling Herbert about the trip and his impressions of the islands (particularly Delos, Paros, Thera, Melos and Poros [Dhílos, Páros, Santorini, Mílos and Póros]); plans to stay in Athens until the 18th [Apr] then go to Nauplia [Náfplio]; and that he had a nice letter from [George] Macmillan encouraging him to apply for the Macmillan studentship at the BSA, but that he had no hope of getting a job through [Arthur] Evans because John’s “enthusiasm for Komo [Kommos] has roused his fears”. John also says how glad he and Hilda are that Herbert was coming to visit next autumn, and asks if the Hellenic Society could get him a copy of ‘Phylakopi’ (a publication of an excavation in Melos [Mílos], 1895) and the report of an excavation that [Richard] Dawkins led in 1911. [It appears that John and Hilda’s plans changed and they did not go to Náfplio].
Sent from Palace Hotel, Athens. Telling Herbert about their plans to travel to Crete with [Humfry] Payne on Friday [26 Apr]; that Payne wanted John and Hilda to work on an excavation at Eleutherna, and was sure John would get the Macmillan studentship at the BSA; and that following Charles [Seltman’s] advice he was not putting his name on appointments board lists. Also telling Herbert about taking photographs in a museum [in Athens]; that he had a good collection of photographs (not all his own) from the cruise around Greek islands; that he did not have mumps [he was expecting them as during the cruise of the Greek islands the hostess’ son had them]; that he had been playing tennis with [Walter] Heurtley and would play hockey; that John and Hilda and [Walter and Eileen] Heurtley would go to Brauron [Vraona] for the day Written on “Sunday” but otherwise undated by John. Annotated in a later hands as “Apr 22nd 1929” and “no, Sunday was the 21st”.
Sent from the Villa Ariadne, Knossos, where John and Hilda had a room, enclosing photographs (not present) of John and Hilda’s cruise around Greek islands. Telling Herbert of his plans to take photographs in the museum [at Knossos] to finish the illustrations for [‘Aegyptiaca’] and that he and Hilda would go to Eleutherna with [Humfry] Payne for a preliminary look at the excavation site. Annotated on reverse, in a later hand, as “1928-1929”.
Sent from the British School at Athens. Telling Herbert that he had been offered the Curatorship of Knossos via a confidential unsigned telegram, and that he had heard from [Humfry] Payne that [Arthur] Evans was happy with him excavating at Keramai [Keramés]. Also about plans to travel back to the United Kingdom via Naples to give information to [Amedeo] Mauiri and hopefully get his agreement for referring to items [in ‘Aegyptiaca’], and then to London, Malvern, Caldy and Cambridge. Additionally telling Herbert: that a manuscript [that he had asked Herbert to send of ‘Aegyptiaca’] had arrived; that he had written to Jock [Lawson?] and said he was “only too willing to pull my weight but except for the long I couldn’t be of any use at all”; and that Rhodes was “delightful”.
Sent from the Berners Hotel. London. Telling Herbert that he had been given the [Curatorship] job at Knossos, he had not heard officially but both [Alan] Wace and Forsdyke had told him, the terms of employment and that these would be settled when he goes to Oxford to stay with [Arthur] Evans on 9 Aug.
Sent from Cambridge, giving news that he had been offered the [Directorship of the Egyptian Exploration Society excavation] at Amarna in 1930-31 and he had accepted and was extremely pleased. John states that he would need to resign the Macmillan studentship at the BSA, that he might apply for Assistant Director [of the BSA] in 1932-33, and that he was waiting until he had seen [Stephen] Glanville before announcing the news of his job at Amarna to the “Aegean World”. Also discussing a visit to [Arthur Evans’ house in] Youlbury where he found out about his duties [at Knossos] and saw [George] Macmillan, [John] Forsdyke and [David Theodore Fyfe] there; and mentioning that Bob Dixon (whose guest John was for the Grouse Feast the previous evening) sent his love to Herbert.
Written from the British School at Athens, wishing Herbert a happy Christmas and New Year and a belated happy birthday. Telling him about a visit to Siphnos with [Hilda] and [Humfry] Payne to look at sites for possible excavations; stating that they may spend Christmas in Icaria [Ikaría] and Keos [Kéa] as Payne wanted to visit possible excavation sites there; and asking him to pass on information about Crete to Mr [Dyson] Perrins [for a planned visit]. Also mentioning: they were sending 2 books for Christmas; thanking Herbert for a book and stating he had not received “the Gardiner, Green” and photos; thanking Herbert for writing to [Cambridge University Press] and stating he had no acknowledgement for proofs he had sent; he had not heard from [Stephen] Glanville about an article on Egypt and the Aegean; and asking Herbert to get ‘Great Ones of Ancient Egypt’ by [Winifred] Brunton. Additionally mentioning that he had heard from Hans [Frankfort] who was on his way to Iraq [Tell Asmar] to excavate, and thanking Herbert for writing about a Pothouse fellowship [?] which was not suitable.
Written from the British School at Athens, wishing Herbert a happy Christmas and New Year and telling him about plans [for Hilda and John] to travel to Sicily (just after Christmas), Andros [Ándros] and Keos [Kéa] (when they get back from Sicily) and Ikaria later. They had planned to spend Christmas on Icaria [Ikaría] and Keos [Kéa] with Payne, but Payne could not go. Also telling Herbert that he, [Walter] Heurtley, [Theodore] Skeat and [Nicholas] Hammond had walked to Thebes from Athens setting off at 3am. Additionally mentioning that he was happy [Cambridge University Press] had proofs [that he had sent], Egyptian books and photographs [that Herbert had sent] had not arrived, and he had not heard from [Stephen] Glanville about [an article on Egypt and the Aegean that John had written].
Written from Palermo, Sicily. Describing his and Hilda’s travels around Sicily and the archaeological sites including Epipolae, Achradina and Tyche at Syrakuse [Syracuse], [The Temple of Concordia] and [Temple of] Juno Lacinia at Girgenti [Agrigento], and Selinous. [Selinunte]. Outlining their plans to travel on to [Rovine di] Segesta, Catania, Taormina and Brindisi, then back to Athens. Also describing an earlier trip to Siphnos [in Dec 1929] where they visited “H. Anargieos” [?], “the Convent of the Naughty Nuns”, Kato Petali, “School of Siphnos”, and asking Herbert whether [‘Isles of the Aegean’] by Scott O’Connor mentions places in Siphnos. Additionally thanking Herbert for letters and [‘Great Ones of Ancient Egypt’ by Winifred] Brunton, and hoping he had received [a postcard] from Girgenti [Agrigento].
Sent from Taormina (Sicily), telling Herbert about the town and their plans to travel back to Athens via Messina, Paestum, Taranto and Brindisi (leaving the next day). Also asking Herbert to check whether his bank to see if he had any payments from the BSA Macmillan studentship, and saying they were looking forward to getting back to Greece.
Sent from the British School at Athens. Telling Herbert about the trip back to Athens via Taormina, Messina, Reggio [di Calabria] (to go to a museum), Paestum, Taranto and Brindisi, and that they had arrived back in Athens the previous day on the same boat as [Eleftherios] Venizelos [Prime Minister]. Also telling Herbert: that he had heard from [Stephen] Glanville about his article on [‘Egypt and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age’], that Glanville and [Henry] Hall had made suggestions for changes and were sending the proofs to John; that they [BSA residents?] were playing hockey against the British Navy who were Piraeus the next day; thanking Herbert for books, asking him to look for photographic negatives of Crete and mentioning he had never received an advertisement for [‘Aegyptiaca’] from the Times Literary [Supplement].
Sent from the British School at Athens. Telling Herbert they had stayed in Athens and not travelled to Andros [Ándros] as planned because of bad weather, that Mrs Payne [Dilys Powell] was giving a lecture to the Anglo Hellenic League on Modern English Literature, and he had been teaching Hilda, [Nicholas] Hammond and Wason to fence. Thanking Herbert for sending books and asking if he had read one of them by Spearing; saying he’d received a copy of ‘Aegyptiaca’ but had not yet got a packet of prospectuses [of ‘Aegyptiaca’] and a cutting from a journal about Egypt; and mentioning an earthquake in Crete that he had been “wiring frantically” about to reassure [Arthur] Evans.
Sent from the British School at Athens. Thanking Herbert for letters and defending his arguments in an article [‘Egypt and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age’], asking Herbert to tell him about a cutting in the “Egyptian Journal” and to send a copy of the [Journal of Egyptian Archaeology], and asking the results of the Pembroke [College, Cambridge] athletics final.
Sent from the British School at Athens. Enclosing a letter from [Stephen] Glanville (not present), discussing Glanville’s objections to an article by John [‘Egypt and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age’], and defending his conclusions in the article (saying Glanville originally supported it, as did Hans [Frankfort] and [Humfry] Payne). Also thanking Herbert for a letter and enclosures, mentioning the prospectuses for ‘Aegyptiaca’ and a cutting from the [Journal of Egyptian Archaeology] which had not yet arrived, saying he would send offprints of [‘Egypt and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age’] to Herbert and Aunt Violet, and that they were leaving to go to Knossos on the 13th of March.
Sent from the British School at Athens. Discussing and defending his article [‘Egypt and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age’] against criticisms of “fantastia”; discussing organising getting copies of reviews [of ‘Aegyptiaca’] from English newspapers, sending a copy of the book to Aunt Violet and asking whether he should reply to all thank you letter for copies of the book. Also mentioning: Hilda found a piece of a faience bowl at the foot of the Acropolis; he had a nice letter from Alan Gardiner offering John the use of his library and a “very gratifying” letter from [Amedeo] Mauiri; that he was to read a paper [based on his article ‘Egypt and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age’] to the Open Meeting at the BSA that Friday; they [people from the BSA] were going to play hockey against the Panathenaic Club; that last Thursday they had shown friends of [Stephen and Ethel] Glanville around [Athens]; and that he and Hilda were going to Chalcis [Khalkís], Thebes and Kithlairon [Cithaeron mountain range] with a group of people the next day, and were travelling to Crete on the 13th [of March]. [The group that travelled to Khalkís, Thebes and Cithaeron included Sir John and Lady Hope Simpson, Betty Hope Simpson, and Mrs and Mr Lywood.]
Sent from the British School at Athens. Asking Herbert to send him a copy of a report in the ‘Morning Post’ newspaper on John’s paper given [at the Open Meeting of the BSA] and telling him that [William] Miller had sent him a precis congratulating him on the paper. Also mentioning that they had a good time at Chalcis [Khalkís], over Cithaeron, Thebes and Euboea.
Sent from the British School at Athens. Telling Herbert that his lecture [based on his article ‘Egypt and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age’] had gone very well, with a copied out letter of praise and encouragement from [Thomas] Peet (part of item). Also thanking Herbert for sending a copy of ‘The Cambridge Review’, saying he had had lots of nice letters [about ‘Aegyptiaca’], telling him that Hilda’s work on Mycenaean pottery was going well and was very useful, that he would start some new work (probably on the Middle Bronze Age), that he hoped [Arthur] Evans wouldn’t start excavating at Komo [Kommos] for 5 years, and that they were leaving for Crete on Friday.
Sent from Knossos [where John had just started his Curatorship]. About their journey from Athens, the Palace [of Minos] being choked up with weeds, that [Duncan] Mackenzie had developed arteriosclerosis so could not be moved, and thanking Herbert for sending copies of ‘Aegyptiaca’ and asking him to send other books as John wanted to start an archaeological library at Knossos. Also telling Herbert that he had met Karo at the [BSA] tea party who wanted to be remembered to Herbert, that they had just missed [Charles and Isabel] Seltman and Winifred Lamb, and that Helen of Mycenae [Helen Dassis] had married a restaurant keeper from New York “with octagonal horn rimmed spectacles, a grim thought”.
Sent from Knossos. Telling Herbert about organising the house [Villa Ariadne], grounds and palace [of Minos], learning Greek business vocabulary and discouraging people from allowing their animals to go into the palace; also about a 3-day trip to Eastern Crete [with Humfry Payne and Miss Hartley]. Also telling Herbert that he had a “very mild” letter from [Henry] Hall [about John’s article ‘Egypt and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age’] and suspected [Thomas] Peet had written to Hall; asking if a bill had arrived from [Cambridge University Press]; reminding Herbert to send a cutting from ‘The Morning Post’ newspaper and asking if he finds anyone with spare copies of archaeological, topographical or classical books to get them to send them for the Knossos library; and mentioning that the weather was hot and [Arthur] Evans was to arrive on the 10th [of April].
Sent from Knossos. Mainly telling Herbert about an incident involving the BSA being accused (by [Spyridon] Marinatos, Director of the Candia Museum) of trying to buy vases which John, [Humfry] Payne and [Dorothy] Hartley had been to see and photograph in a house in Candia [Iráklion]. Their driver and the owners of the vases were arrested. John had sent correspondence to [Humfry] Payne to take to the Ministry of Archaeology and British Legation in Athens, expected Marinatos was “about done for the high jump”, and was going to demand a full apology be published in all the newspapers. Also telling Herbert about reports on John’s paper [given at the BSA and based on his article ‘Egypt and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age’]; that the 2 copies of ‘Aegyptiaca’ he had sent had not yet arrived; that they were giving lunch to some Hellenic travellers on Friday; the Villa [Ariadne] and Taverna were looking good; and [Arthur] Evans was to arrive around the 12th [of April].
Sent from Knossos. Telling Herbert about a lunch they hosted for “The Hellenic Travellers” including [Arthur] Evans’ stepmother, Anthony Hope, Gilbert Murray, H. A. L. Fisher, [B. H.] Liddell Hart, Ernest Gardner, Ronald Knox, [Alfred Cort] Haddon of Christ’s [College, Cambridge], [William David] Ross of Oriel [College, Oxford], McElroy and Saleeby (“the health expert”); and that they had also had a visit from 100 Polish people from Warsaw. Additionally thanking Herbert for a copy of ‘Punch’ and “Ur and Budge”, and mentioning that he had written to congratulation Dickie and Robin [Mabel Dickson and her son].
Sent from Knossos. About publications (‘Aegyptiaca’ had arrived, a notice about the Ceylon Archaeological Post, asking for a copy of ‘Crete: the forerunner of Greece’ by Charles Henry Hawes, and for Herbert to send out offprints [of an article by John]); John’s work on the pottery of Knossos; tourists who had been visiting; disagreement with [Spyridon Marinatos, Director of the Candia Museum]; and that they had been to Kanli Kasteli (Bloody Castle) that day and “our man” [driver] had spread out lunch for them. Also mentions that [Arthur] Evans would arrive on Wednesday [16 Apr].
Sent from Knossos. Telling Herbert about visitors and arrivals to Knossos: [Gustav] Krupp of Essen (Germany) with a large family on Easter Monday [14 Apr]; [Arthur] Evans [16 Apr]; [Eleftherios] Venizelos, Sir Arthur and Lady Crossfield [17 Apr]; and [Robert Carr] Bonsanquet with others [19 Apr]. Also telling Herbert about progress on housing the pottery [finds at Knossos] and the Throne Room, that Arthur [Evans] was busy working on proofs of [‘The Palace of Minos III’], and that John was to receive an apology from [Spyridon] Marinatos [Director of the Candia Museum, for an accusation of trying to buy vases].
Sent from Knossos. Telling Herbert about progress on re-roofing the Throne Room, a small excavation by the Theatral area, building up the library collection (including that Arthur Evans had given £50 for the library), buying carpet and decorating the house [Villa Ariadne]. Also telling Herbert about a second party of “Hellenic Travellers” including [George William] Lyttelton and [Cyril] Allington of Eton [College], [John Fergusson] Roxburgh of Stowe [School], [Eric] Whitworth of Bradfield [College], Sir J. [John Herbert] Parsons and Professor [Robert] Newstead. Additionally listing cheques [for Herbert to deposit for John] and writing that Hilda’s bank book was in Athens.
Sent from Knossos. Updating Herbert on progress on the reconstruction of the Throne Room, and an excavation by the Theatral area which had revealed a new complex of pavements and walls and a lot of Geometric pottery. Also discussing that he had heard from [Humfry] Payne that [Spyridon] Marinatos [Director of the Candia Museum] had been sent a stern letter from the Ministry of Archaeology in Athens (related to accusing the BSA of trying to buy vases). Additionally mentioning that he had sent out advertisements for ‘Aegyptiaca’ just before leaving Athens, asking Herbert to send offprints from the [Journal of Egyptian Archaeology of his article ‘Egypt and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age’] to [Thomas] Peet rather than [Gerald] Wainwright and to send books for the library at Knossos, telling him they had a lull in visitors, and listing cheques [to be paid into John’s bank account].
Sent from Knossos. About progress on excavations, and telling Herbert that Kosti [Chronakis] had been ill, Arthur [Evans] had been buying a lot of furnishings for the Taverna, and that [Spyridon Marinatos, Director of the Candia Museum] had resigned after a stern letter from the Ministry of Archaeology in Athens (related to accusing the BSA of trying to buy vases). Also mentioning offprints from the [Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, of his article ‘Egypt and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age’], and that he would be back in the United Kingdom from the beginning or middle of July.
Sent from Knossos. Discussing a review by [Thomas] Peet (in the Liverpool Annuals) of ‘Aegyptiaca’, including criticisms of the book. Also updating Herbert on work at Knossos: that the work on the Palace was going well, they had found two more huge Koulouras (wall refuse pits) and a series of MMII polychrome (Kamarais) pottery. Also mentioning: [Humfry] Payne had found “great things” at Perachora (a town besides the temples, and “masses of excellent pottery”); he had received £15 worth of books from Salby [for the Knossos library]; the weather was too cool and rainy to have dinner outside; that Hilda was well but he had a cold; and reminding Herbert to organise cricket for July when John there and asking if there was news of offprints [from the Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, of his article ‘Egypt and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age’].
Sent from Knossos. Telling Herbert about progress on the excavation and finds including a flight of crimson steps; that he was busy at Knossos as [Piet] de Jong had just left so John was doing his work too, as well as supervising reconstruction and running the excavation, so he didn’t have time to continue sorting and housing pottery that year. Also thanking Herbert for information about service flats in London and saying they would get one [in the summer]; apologising for the “tone” of a telegram he had sent to Herbert; discussing United Kingdom income tax; asking Herbert not to send [books by] Wilamowitz and Myres as he would read them when he was home; complaining about new procedures by the Greek post office which would slow-down delivery times; and thanking Herbert for sending out [copies of ‘Aegyptiaca’ to others] and wondering why Keynes Smith had not received his copy (as he was on a list John had given [Cambridge University Press]).
Sent from Knossos. Thanking Herbert for [a book entitled] ‘Who were the Greeks?’ and telling him that John and Hilda had been away camping on the shore near “Almyro” [Almyros beach, Eastern Crete]; that he was very busy taking on [Piet] de Jong’s architectural work, digging and reconstructing; and that books had safely arrived from Salby’s [bookseller, for the library at Knossos]. Additionally sending regards from [Georg] Karo who had been excavating at the Dipylon and had found the tomb of the “Lacedaemonian Polemards” [Kerameikos, Athens].
Sent from Knossos. Telling Herbert about work on the excavation: that it was strenuous as he was doing his own work, Piet de Jong’s (who was at Perachora with Humfry Payne) and Duncan Mackenzie’s left over work; Hilda was working on pottery; that they were digging West of the West court and had found 2 more “Koulouras” (walled rubbish pits), 2 houses plastered in red, lots of complete MMIa vases, the boundary wall of the oldest (MMIa) Palace area, and other items. Also telling Herbert about a letter John had written to the Times Literary Supplement about their review of a book about [excavations at Olynthos]; that Mary Hamilton [Swindler] had visited Knossos and was giving John a copy of [‘Ancient Painting’]; that [Arthur] Evans would leave Knossos on the 27th [of June] and they should be back in the United Kingdom by the 14th of July. Additionally thanking Herbert for sending books; thanking him for his approval of [John’s article ‘Egypt and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age’ in the Journal of Egyptian Archaeology] and asking what he thought of drawings by Hilda; and mentioning his Cretan costume had arrived and was “perfectly gorgeous”.
Sent from Knossos. Telling Herbert about work at Knossos, including that they had found the original western entrance to the Palace, he had started writing a guide to Knossos, and that they wouldn’t be home until the 20th of July as there was a lot of work to do. Also thanking Herbert for [‘Ancient Painting’ by Mary Hamilton Swindler]; telling him about [Humfry] Payne’s work at Perachora including that Payne had found at least 50 items that could be added to ‘Aegyptiaca’; and about getting Cretan clothes “with embroidery to delight Dickie’s heart” [Mabel Dickinson].
Sent from Knossos. Complaining that [Arthur] Evans seemed to be trying to extend John’s time at Knossos to the detriment of his work at Amarna, and kept finding additional things for the team to do; apologising that they would not return to the United Kingdom until the 20th of July; advising Herbert on cleaning marble busts; stating that the [Cambridge University] Press should have sent offprints [from the Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, of his article ‘Egypt and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age’]; and mentioning that he was looking forward to tennis and cricket and that it seemed that everyone [in athletics] was now jumping [6 feet and 2 inches] and “doing 15 in the hurdles”.
Sent from Knossos. Discussing plans to travel back from Knossos via Athens to see [Humfry] Payne’s finds from Perachora, and arrive [in the United Kingdom] on the 20th of July, and asking to if they [John and Hilda] could go to Malvern on the 23rd [of July] because John wanted to visit [F P] David during his last term at Winchester [College]. Also discussing an article about Knossos in The Times, the weather at Knossos, and that he was glad [Arthur] Evans had left so they could finish the work without interruptions. Additionally mentioning that Hans [Frankfort] had congratulated him on the style of his article ([on ‘Egypt and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age’] which he had just received the offprints for) and “the jocular kicks on the bottom I gave Wainwright”, and that he was sorry about Robin [Mabel Dickinson’s son].
Sent from Knossos. Mainly telling Herbert about a letter from [Gerald Avery] Wainwright responding to John’s article on [‘Egypt and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age’], and John’s letter of reply to Wainwright. Also discussing finishing work and packing up at Knossos, the weather, that he was glad that Robin [Mabel Dickinson’s son] was better and hoped “Dickie is behaving”. The reverse of the letter is annotated “Crete 1930” in a different hand.
Sent from the British School at Athens.
Sent from the British School at Athens.