Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1859-09-24
Ml l8OGAA ANY, +,
From tho Knickcrbnckor.
The Wealth of The Ancients

In reading the history Of tho past. We arc
aStonlshe'l at the vast amount of wealth
amnsscd ny individuals and communities. -
The sums are so enormous that we arc almost
lcd to dnubt the authenticity of history In
every grove some beautiful fnuntain cast its
sparkling Jet into the translucent air: tri-
umphnl arches, of vast proportions and Of gnr-
gerus-fuish spanncd the streets Of every CITY
of any Importance splendid palaces. teckcd
with every BEATTY that could charm and with
overy grandeur that chuld awe, arose rs if
by the touch of the magcans wand Cities
whose grand old ruins, even at the present
day. afford pleasing study to the antiuuary.
sprang into existence. and became so mag
niRcent that the wonder has not ceased bow
such stupeudoHs structures could have been
erected by human hands.
During the reign of pericles. Athens was
ut the zenith of her glory. In almost every
temple might be seen tho masterlv works of
genius: statues from tho chisel of Phidins
and paintings from the pencil of APPEL =
Tho Propvlca cost the enormous sum of So,
l13,00O 1t stood Q magnificent monument
tn the taste of Pericles and to the genius of
Mncsicles. II was 'fiankcd by two Temples ::
and through these gorgeous portals, which
modern art in vain attempts to rival, did that
proud and luxurious people ascend to the
summit of tho hill to crown with gnrlands of
fresl, flowers tho guardian deticS of the city,
Al the luse of the .AcrOrolis lowered in won.
drous splendor the OIeum, whence swelled
aluft pmans Of love or of victory. which were
echoed from the distant boundaries of the
Republic. Above tho city and abhve the cit
adcl. whether he .uurncycd by land or by
sea. the traveller. at q great distance, saw
the Parthenon, the noblest achievements of
Grecian architecture, towering proudly to-
ward. thc azure aky. OF this stupondous
structure Nj. Lnmartinc SAYS: Tho aspect
of tho Parthenon displays hettor than histo
rv. the colossal grandeur of u people Peri-
Giles ought not to dic. What superhuman
civilization was that whiclr-supplied great
man to command. an architect to conceive, a
sculptor to decorate, statuaries to execute.
workmen to cut. q people to pay, and eyes to
comprehend and admire such an olihce -.
1t was erected Mt an expense of seven hun.
dred thousand dollars. .'r -i
During tho administration Of Pericles. the
cost of the temples, palaces. and monuments
amounted to near So, l85,700. which lie pro-
posed To the senate should bc met from his
own private fortune. At this time, the pri.
vatc stock of the Athenians was So. .379, $50.
Every kind of luxury was introduced Yes.
sells from distant ports. laden with the richest
deiicacics. crowded the Pirmus and Phhie-
rc'fs; and upon the burning deserts of the
East, caravans toiled slowly toward the proud
capital of Greece The common food that
had nourished the brave abd daring heroes
of Marathon and Thermopyloee. was ex-
changed for the sickly dainties of Persian
court; and the sparkling waters Of IIelicon
ripple6 on while the wines Of Ccylon. cooled.
'fn Thraeian sasw, made tho brain reel and
the eye unsteadP>
fn point OF beauty. power. and wealth.
&lcxan@ria succeeded sRcient Memphis In
GAi ages. the Fast has poured it's riches into
the laps of these BGtigps that lie toward the
setting sun. From one eomm eEeiai voyage,
Solomon realized $l5,000,555 dallArs. Un.t
der the influence Of the trade froA fndia,
AlexeBdFia rapidly increased in beauty aad
power. SO. bss when Augustus entered the
city. nfteY skdtt resistance bs pardoBsd oil
the inhabita0ls dnacevant Its splendor and
magniAe4nqe. Tho celebrated ligbtiionse
Pbarqs. Which stood at the extremity,oE the
harbop Bogtus EupSt,Ss, cost, eight bspdred
and siztys(9gE gSogsepd dollars end, sneh
Mas tbs 3 !tont'f If gie PfoSpesfty Of the city.
thatp |sinSls citizen pSoPdsei TO raise and
paZ I'M srlily ont Of tliis profits OF biz ,tFadp =
For nios hundred q9a seyonty years thu
prosperity OF AlexandnI was Vnaisngbed
Through hnr streets had pgsseI the fostivo
procession Of psolomy philedeipbps. Ttwas
the most SopSsoas anB Imposing that the
4yorhl has oSsr witnessed, or that history has
ever reeosd t. From morning uutil night
that mighty host, glit,eripg with gems and
gold aud Slivqr. dsRlOJ hong. Cars, drawn
by Ave lrundrod mon, and laden with golden
crowns, sparkling withlbrillianC diamonds,
Folled over flowers Of SSery hue.
tsAft0F this rich cfqiPea&o' = Sdys. Rollinr