In 1921 there came into existence a small Society for the preservation of the remains of Magna Grecia which were fast disappearing, and for making new excavations on sites where more of such remains might be looked for. This Society during its short life has saved much and found much more, working quietly and unobtrusively, and at very little cost.

Side by side with these remains of Magna Grecia, even more widely spread and hardly known except to a few scholars, are the remains of ‘Italia Bisantina,’ ruins of monasteries, caves, lauras and frescoed cave-chapel. These monuments of mediaeval Byzantine history are fast disappearing from neglect. The records of them are very sparse; there are few photographs and no coloured reproductions. They are, in fact, in the same condition as were the remains of Magna Grecia.