The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1859-04-08
A Visit 70 Athens.


in America, while, after q hurried
breakfast, and with excited imagin-
ations, we hastened to the ruins Of
Athens. On that bold rock before
us, was once seated the grandeur Of
the "City of Minerva"---the Acropo-
lis within whose bonds stood the
magnificent Parthonon aud the Pan.
droseum, besides many Of those
buildings with which Pericles so
beautified the city. 1t was for this
point we were hurrying; but stay,
how can we pass these beautiful col.
umnss How grand! On inquiring
of our guide, he informs us in u long
sing-song narrative, (Which makes
me 80 angry,) that they are supposed
to be the remaining columns of the
temple of Jupiter Olympus-fit en-
blems OF its fallen grandeur; and
was it here that the gold and ivory
statue Of the god was, where these
hovols, was once the temple OF Ju.
piter? 1t is even so, for all along
our route tho huts of the squatters
are built OF stone from the ruins,
and | am told that when a farmer
wants to wall his land, he has but
to go to the ruins, where he finds
the blocks already hewn. After q
little scrambling over broken pedes.
tails and scattered capitals, we found
ourselves in the presence Of the Par
thenon; and it was not till now that
its grandeur and extent became visi-
bic, All around US lay it's sculp-
tured stones, while above lowered its
splendid columns. Tearing ourselves
from this absorbing scene for a mo.
ment, we gazed around us we were
in the centre of a lovely, fertile
plain, encircled by range of blue
mountains. On the one side lay the
Struggling remains OF ancient gran
deur; while on the other modern
Athens. See the fate of ctiesi Like
that of man, they are made Of dust;
they flourish; to dust they return
A few whitening lines alone now
mark the site OF the pride OF Pc icles.
But to the Parthenun again; this
temple was dedicated to Minerva,
but was destroyed in the ruins of the
city by the Persians. Pericles, Ito
whom we owe that encouragement
OF art before unknown J in i4+ C.,
rebuilt it in a most noble m amer.
As its remains now declare. 1t was
in this temple that Phidias's renuwn
ell ivory statne OF the goddess stood
it was forty six ieet high, and cost
about S276 700. This rock of the
Acropolis is one perfect mass of ru-
ins-ruins, too. that will cope with
any in the world. Egypt not except
ed. There are growing on this field
Of stone few scattered olive trees,
which We're Cne OF the emblems OF
Minerva. After spending NAV hours
among these interesting remains, we
descended to the Catapoli5. which
is now occupied by the site of mod.
ern Athens. There we're many won
dertul buildings in this part of the
ancient city, but they are now al
most entirely oblterated. Ii was in
this part of the city that the mosl
magnificent editice of tn Grecians
was situated, | refer to the temple OF
Jupiter olympus. whose remains
have before referred to. Here, too,
were those sch Jols in which the phi.
losophere used to teach their sciol-
ara; not dismal prisons, but beanG
ful gardens, where were expoundcC
the most magnificent theories OF Tia,
world. Athens fultills all my ex
pectations, with the exception that
did not find as many sculpture,
stones and irescoes as had belor
imagined; these suppose have beef
taken by greedy collectors, and i
would be hard to say /! they are no
now at bctter purposes, than to b
defled and made stone walls of, =
The sun is already tinting the Par
thenon with its varied hues. and
must close this very uninterestini
letter on a very interesting subjec
~.