Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-01-14
THURSDAY MORNING, JANUARY II, 1871.

theatre; Hntn nc Teinembcisf u nc re-
members nothing else, that on festivals like
these, when the tragedies were 10 bo re-
presented, in these times when the state
was well governed, and directed by faith
full ministers, herald appeared, and INTRO
ducing those orphans whose fathers bad
died in battle, now arrived at maturity,
and dressed in complete armour, made u
proclamation the mos. noble, and the
most effactual to excite tho mind to glori-
Gus actions: That these youths, whose
fathers lost their lives in fighting bravely
for their country, Tho people had main.
tanned 10 this their age of maturity: that
now, having furnished them with complete
suits OF armor, they dismiss them with
prayers OF prosperity to attend 10 their
respective affairs, and invite them TO as
pire 10 the highest offices Of the State"
Continuing our way up the ascent, we
came to hut containing some OF the Pa
likari, or soldiers ofthe revolution. Most
OF them were decorated with crosses of
honor, with which they have been invest.
ed by the King for exploits OF courage
They we're stationed here as guard OF
honor 10 the temples Of their ancestors.
Handing over our tickets, accompanied
by soldier, we entered upon the Acrop-
oils, through an iron-coated gate, ridded
with bulet-holes, a memorial OF the sleges
of the Acropolis. The first thing that ar.
rested our attention was the remains OF
the Prophylae, or temple, through which
entrance was had to the platform Of the
Acropolis. Some of the columns are yet
standing. -Four of those which support.
ed the facade and frieZe are broken off IN
the middle, though the main body OF the
porticoes, particularly that on the west
side, is well preserved. On both sides OF
the Prophylea were por.icoes, which with
the elegant facade of the temple, made
most imposing entrance 10 this temple
crowned hill. To the right, on entering,
stands the Venltian tower, which forms
such prominen, part in all en2ravings OF
the Acropolis. In the Revolution, il be.
came watch tower an1 pris n. Here
ULYSSES was confined, who, from noun.
tain robber, became patriot leader
Passing between this tower and the Pro.
phylna, we stood before the Parthenon.
| Il is n rum, but neither time, nor the de.
stroving hand Of man, has been able to
obiterate the traces OF its ancient gran
deur. II is not, however, IN such state
of ruin rs we had been led TO imagine
Excepting that the temple is rent asunder
IN the centre by the explosion OF powder
magazine, in the time of the Vcnitans,
and the loss OF the frieze, carried off by
Lord Elgiu, in his Gothic spolintion Of the
Grecian temples, it is in toerable state OF
preservation. The pllasters and colo
nades, with this exception, yet remain
The Parthenon stands upon the highest
point of the Acropolis, and towers up, so
as to be visible at a great distance, and Mt
all the approaches to the city.
The view from its steps is one of the
richest in noble associations in oil nature.
| The eye, from here, sweeps over the
whole plain Of Athens; and as we dlscov-
cred the site of the Stadium, the Lycmum,
the Cephisus and lllyssus, and the Acad-
envy where Plato taught divine philosophy,
our feelings were kinded into the most
unbounded enthusiasm. A few thinly
planted olive groves, scattered over the
plain, recalled the time when il was COW
cred with the sacred olive, beneath whose
shade, in the cool retreats OF the Lycgum
and Academy, ingenious youth gathered
| from all quarters Of the civilized world to
learn philosophy from the sages OF Athens.
! To the north. cast OF us stood the surviving
columns ofthe magnificent temple Of Jup.
ter Olympus. Upon an adjoining though
/ lesser decllvity, we saw the hill OF the
Pnyx, where the turbulent democracy OF
Athens were wont 10 listen to the elo.
quence of him who fulmined over Mace
dom" To the south lay the now desert
ed harbor of tho Pireus, and beyond that
rolled the waters OF Salamis, where
Xerxes, from, his throne of silver, on yon-
der mountain, beheld the discontinue Of
his fleet by the Greeks, under Themlsto-
ces. From the spot where we stood,
thousands Of anxious Athenians had gaz.
ed saon that memorable sen fight, which
was to decide the destinies oil Greece
and upon the affairs, in the temple, beneath
whose shadow we were reposing, the fires
Of sacrifice were kindled, and offerings
made to the protecting deity of the city,
| when the galies Of the Greeks broke the
thick array OF the Persans, and Thcms.
tocles was seen charging in the full ca
reer Of successful pursuit
Around the plain swept circlet OF
mountains Hyme,tus and Pentelcus,
hitting theiz tall SUBMITS above all. On
the opposite side, tie horizon was bound
ed by the blue Egean. Marathon lies
beyond Pen.elicus, and is not to be seen
from the Acropolis; but We traced with
no ordinary emotion the road to it,
| Along that road ran the soldier who bore
TO trembling Athens, the news OF the VIC
tory at Marathon, and died in proclaim
| ing il. Wherever tn, eye rested, 1t fell
upon some memorial OF ancient greatness.
.l....A MIN rlarainrA1it q