The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-03
New York Historical Society.

The regular monthly meeting Of the New York
Historical Society was held on Tuesday evening at
their rooms, in the University, when Professor
Adolphus L. Koeppen read o paper on the late
archaeological discoveries in the Pir@us, illustrating
the naval supremacy and the commercial and colo
NAL Development Of the Athenian republic. On the
walls behind the platform wore suspended charts,
showing the harbors and long walls Of Athens, the
Acropols, the present city, &c. After the regular
business Of the society disposed Of Mr.. Koeppen
proceeded to read his paper.
In his last paper he had attempted to draw their
attention to the Acropolis This evening his subject
would be less exciting, but more important in his.
torical point Of view, since it would treat Of dis
coveries recently found in the different ports Of
Athens. The particular advantages of the site Of
Athens did notso much consist in her AcropOs as
in the impregnablity OF her rocks Nature had con-
spred to draw out all the energy Of this remarkable
people, the Amenians of antiquity. The Pireus is
is small harbor having like the Piraus, fortified.
tons This was the principal galley port, with berths
for enc hundred and sixty galleys. The ancient
Greek writers say that the ostracized exles were
Temple of Diana. Every step the romantic shores
of Attica recalls recollections OF the great events
which passed in the
''Clime Of the unfcrgotten brave,
Whose soil, from glen to mountain cave,
Was freedoms home gory's grave"
The old open port of Phaeris is situated mile south
Of Pir9us All that remote time the Preus did not ex
list as port but lay as rocky far out island Forma-
t0ns of aluvial lands are found throughout Greece
as, for instance, in Thermopyl9; so likewise on the
west the fort Of Missoongh had been only impassa
BILE marsh 1t was the creative genius OF Themistoces
which discovered that the future greatness of Athens
lay in the Development of the Pieus, and to unite
it to the city by two walls of five miles in length
enclosing an area of at least hrtyve English miles,
So sudden Development of democratic power can
scarcely be equaled even mere on the banks Of the
Hudson. But Themistocles was not Washington
and he was compelled to fly from his country, and
take refuge with the King Of Persia. 1t remained
for the brilliant CimOn to finish these walls, and it
was Pericles, his great rival, who urged his fellow
citizens to erect the third or middle wall which was
intended to make Athens impregnable. In five years
after, in 43l Sparta and the other Grecian powers
commenced the celebrated Peloponesian war but the
powerful enemy could not approach the fortified city,
and the Athenan democracy held in check the
aristOcracy of Sparta. At last, Athens lost her
fleets, her colonies, and her independence, and
Athens surrendered to proud Lysander and his Spar
tans, who demolished the long walls and all her for
tificatons. But Sparta, too, came to suffer her
reverses, and the long walls and harbors of Athens
were rebuilt with Persian money; but only the two
parallel walls were rebuilt. Thus Athens again APP
peared on the stage of nations, until she threw her
self into the Of the despotic Mthridates agains
Rome. Sylla destroyed the long walls, and Rome's
eagle bore down all opposition, and the modest
works OF antiquity were destroyed according to the
systematic Roman system of desolation. And
here finishes the ancient history Of the Pireus.
In the year 1929, relics were found in one of the
churches, which were to be referred to the time Of
Philip Of Macedon. They enrich Greek literature
with many scientific terms, and furnish much into
resting information. King Ohio having recently
sent out carts to procure earth, very extensive GENE
teries were discovered containing the most magnif
cent scpulcbres. An immense arsenal was also
found, which had been built at immense expense by
Themistocles; and in this place number Of marble
slabs were discovered bearing inscriptions and Civ
ing details OF 372 Of the Athenan feet in the time of
the Peoponcsan war, and giving the names of all
the ships and OF their equipments. The ruins Of the
long walls only exist in part. Three miles OF the
northern wall have disappeared but the southern
one Is IN pretty good prcservation; so the walls
ofthe city, Indications OF the mines have been found
with which Sylla had attacked the western part of
the city. The plain Immediately on the east OF the
Pn8us has been in modern times the theatre of a
dreadful tragedy. in the revolutionary war of 1926
after Missolonghi had been taken it was the scene
Of a decisive battle, in which the British General
Church led the Greek m0untaineers against the
Turks; but the Greek army was deeated two
thousand died on the field, and six hundred were led
captive to the camp OF Reschid Pacha and beheaded,
amid the yells Of the savage Turks. The greatness
OF Athens rested entirely its commerce and naval
power, but had no firm foundation in the produc.
tons Of Attca and there it fell before its successive
enemies. But the mental dominion Of Athens will
continue as guiding beacon to humanity 50 long as
civilization exists in Europe and in America. The
lecturer was much appanded at the close of his dis
course ard vote Of tnapks was given " bin by the
sot'o'y,