The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-04-21
A Visit to Athens.

A fairer day never saw, not even in
America, while after hurried breakfast and
with excited imaginations we hastened to
the ruins Of Athens. On that bold rock be.
fore us was once seated the grandeur OF the
"City of Minerva"-the AcropoIs-within
whose bounds stood the magnificent Par
thenon and the Pandroseum, besides many
of.those buildings with which PericIes so
beautified his city. 1t was for this point we
were hurrying but stay, how cun we pass
these beautiful columns How grand On
inquiring of our guide, he informs US in
long sng.song narrative, (Which makes me
so ungry,) that they are supposed to be the
remaining columns of the temple of Jupiter
OIympus-ft emblems Of its fallen grandeur;
and was it here that the gold and ivory sta.
tue Of the god was where these novels, was
once the temple OF Jupiter 1t is even SO,
FIR all along cur route the huts OF the squat.
,ers are built Of stone from the ruins, and
am told that when farmer wants to wall
his land, he has but to 90 to the ruins, where
he finds the blocks already hewn. After
little scrambling over broken pedestals and
scattered capitals, we found ourselves in the
presence of the Parthenon and it was not
till now that its grandeur and extent became
visible. All around US lay its sculptured
( stones, while above lowered its splendid
! columns. Tearing ourselves from this ab-
sorbing scene for moment, we gazed around
us-we were in the centre OF lovely, fer.
tile 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 3! 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 Pericles.
But to the Parthenon again this temple
was dedicated to Minerva, but was destroyed
in the ruin Of the city by the Persians.-
Perces, (to whom we owe that encourage
ment Of art before unknown) in 444 B. c.,
rebuilt it in most noble manner, as its re-
mains now decIure. 1t was in this temple
that Phdias' renowned ivory statue of the
goddess stood it was foriy-six feet high
and cost about 1916 600. This rock of the
Acropolis is one perfect mass Of runs-runs
too, that will cope with any in the world
Egypt not excepted. There arc growing
on this field Of stone few scattered olive
trees, which were one of the emblems oil
Minerva. After spending many hours among
these interesting remains we descended 10
the Cotopolis, which is now occupied by the
site of modern Athens. There were many
!, wonderful buildings in this part of the an
cient city, but they are now almost entirely
obiterated. 1t was in this part of the CITY
that the most magnificent edifce of the Gre
clans was situated, | refer to the temple o
Jupiter Olympus, whose remains have be.
fore referred to. Here, too, were those
schools in which the philosophers used tt
teach their scholars; not dismal prisons, bu
beautiful gardens, where were expoundet
, the most magnificent theories OF the world
Athens fulfIIs all my expectations, with th
exception that did not find as many scup
tured stones and frescoes as had befor
, imagined; these suppose have been take
, by greedy collectors, and it would be hard t.
say if they are not now at better purpose
than to be detied and made stone walls OF
The sun is already tinting the Parthenol
with its varied hues, and must close thi
very uninteresting letter on very interest
ing subject.-N Y. Evening Post.