Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-04-13
q. II. D1Nf kH
j. n. SrALLISGs, Sec'y

\ Visit TO ATHENS.-A fairer day never saw
not even in America, while after hurried breakfast
and with excited imagnations we FASTENED to the
ruins of Athens. On that bold rock before us was
once seated the grandeur of the City of Minerva
the Acropolis-withn whose bounds stood the mag
nifcent Parthenon and the PandroScun, besides
many Of those buildings with which Periclcs so
beautifed his city. 1t was for this point we were
hurrying but stay, how can we pass these beaui-
full columns? How grand On inquiring of our
guide he informs Us in long singsong narrative,
(which makes me so angry,) that they are supposed
to be the remaining columns of the temble OF Jupi
ter Olympus-tt emblems of its fallen grandeur;
and it here that the gold and ivory statue of the
god was, where these novels, was once the temple
of Jupiter. 1t is even so, for all along our route
the huts of the squatters built of stone from the
ruins, and am told that when farmer wants to
wall his land he has but to go the ruins where lie
finds the blocks already hewn After little scran-
bling over broken pelestals and scattered capitals,
we found ourselves in the presence of the Parthe-
non; and it was not till that its grandeur and
extent became visible All around us Law its sculp-
tured stones, while above lowered its splendid col
umns. Tearing ourselves from this absorbing scene
for moment we gazed around us-we were in the
centre of lovely, fertile plain encircled by range
OF blue mountains. On the one side lay the strag-
Cling remains of ancient grandeur; while on the
other modern Athens. See the fate Of cities! Like
that of man, they arc made of dust; they flourish :;
to dust they return. A few whitening lines alone
now mark the site of the pride of Periclcs
But to the Parthenon again; this temple was
dedicated to Minerva, but destroyed in the ruins
of the city by the Persians Pericles Ito whom we
owe that encouragement of art before unknown in
IA b. c. rebuilt it in most noble manner, as its
remains now declare 1t was in this temple that
Phidas's renowned ivory statue of the goddess
stood; it was forty-six feet high, and cost about
S576OO0. This rock of the Acropolis is one perfect
mass of ruins-ruins, too, that will cope with any
! IN the word, Egypt not excepted. There are grow,
ing this field of stone few scattered olive trees
! which were one OF the cmblems of Minerva. After
! spending many hours among these interesting re-
mains, we descended to the Capapos, which is now
| occupied by the site of modern Athens There
were MANY wonderful buildings in this part of the
ancient city, but they almost entirely oblt
Grated. 1t was in this part of the city that the
most magnificent edifice of the Grecians was situat
ed refer to the temple of Jupiter Olympus, whose
remains have before referred to. Here, too, were
those schools in which the philosophers used t.
their scholars not dismal PRISONS but beauti
| ful gardens, where were eXpounded the most mag
nltcent theories of the world. Athens fulfls al
my expectations, with the exception that did no
find as many sculptured stones and frescoes hat
before imagined; these suppose have been takel
by greedy collectors and it would be hard to say
they are not now at better purposes than to be de
tiled are made stone walls Of The sun is alread,
tinting the Partenon with its varied hues, and
must close this very uninteresting letter on yer,
interesting subject