Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-07-28
Glimpses Of the 0rIent---No. s.


Northwest Of the Acropolis, on point OF land
juttng out from the Areopagus Is the Thesenm.
This is the Oldest relic Of Athenan buildings, and
the most perfect OF all the Greek temples. It Is
nm oblong structure, one hundred and four feet in
length and forty.ive feet in breadth, purely Doric
In style, aud has six columns on each end and
thirteen on each side. It was erected about 47O
b. G. to cover the bones of Theseus On It's frieze
was sculptured the abors OF Theseus the labors Of
Hercules, the battle Of the giants and the gods,
and the contests OF the Centaurs and the Lapithm.
Most Of these decorations have been much injured
by the action Of the atmosphere, but some parts
requite distinct. The temple itself was preserved
during all the troubous Middle Ages and the
Turkish wars, partly by Its having been converted
into church, and partly by It's isolated position on
the very border OF the city. South of the Acrop-
oils, and close under its ramparts, are the odeum
Of Herodes, Roman theater OF the time of the
Antonnes and the celebrated Donysac Theater,
where were represented the plays Of Aeschylus,
Sophocles, Euripedes and Aristophanes The
former would seat six thousand people, and the
latter fully twice, perhaps thrice this number
The seating of both in the side of the hill and
partly hewn out Of the solid rock. The stage and
the upper tiers OF seats Of the Dionysiac Theater
have been recently dsinterred, and many frag-
ments OF decorations have been brought to light
OF the colonnade which was built to connect these
theaters but little remains, yet close under the
wall Of the Acropolis are two marble columns,
which probably supported tripods. or other prizes
won In the games or literary contests. Farther
east on n broad artificial terrace, which extends
very near to the bank Of the Ilissus, was the
mighty temple of Jupiter Olympus Its founda.
/ tiOns were laid Inv piaistrafna hint IL uaa oou,
pleted by Hadrian, six hundred and fifty years
later OF all the temples OF the ancient Creeks
! and Romans, only that OF Diana at Ephesus ex-
ceeded this in size and stateliness. 1t was three
hundred and fifty feet long, and one hundred and
| seventy-one feet broad. One hundred and twenty
four columns, each nearly sixty feet in height
and over six feet in diameter formed the porticoes
and peristyes. The architecture was Coriuthan,
and the material of the whole the purest Pentelic
marble. One hardly imagine the richness
and beauty Of the completed structure. FIJI
teen OF these columns, spanned by architraves
Of enormous size, are still erect and one lies pros
trate. For the rest, may inquire only when
the tombs give up their dead. Near this temple
is the arch Of the great Roman emperor-builder,
Hadrian, but it is Insignificant when compared
with others, even Of his Roman works.
| Across the lssus is the Panathenaie Stadium,
where the foot-races were held only the
area for the running, the place of the goal and
the bare substrucure for the seats are visible but
once it was covered with the finest white marble
Returning to L verge Of the modern city, we find,
almost underneath the eastern wall rock Of the
Acropolis the celebrated and oft-imitated Chora-
gic monument of Lysicrates. The first view OF it
disappoints. 1t is surrounded by houses, and is
m nU han had ad nrtl
on farther and closer inspection, it seems more
beautiful, and was eminently suitable as a memo
rial of victorious chorus. It's inferior, in mere
size, to its best western copy Gallon HILL Edn-
burgh, but it is wtha much lighter and more ell
egant. Almost quarter of a circle hence, and
north OF the Acropolis, is curious old tower the
! exterior of which served sun dial, and which
within was a water clock On the summit was
Triton who always pointed windward, and on
each,o the octagonal faces OF the tower was the
name of a wind, and figure representing the
characteristics Of that wind. Not far from this
spot are columns belonging to stoa, or colon
made, others forming the front of an ancient mar
ket, and, In modern garden, are still others which
might have been the portico OF public building
or a portico OF gymnasium. We spent one
morning on the road which leads to Eleusis. Here |
u
from the present city, the west have been found
the walls of ancient Athens, covered fifteen feet
deep by the debris of centuries. The kind of |
stone and the method Of construction employed, |
show that Athens was one of the Oldest cities of
Greece. These stones must have been laid in pro- |
historic days. The walls OF Tiryns are earlier, |
but neither Argos nor Mycenae can lay claim to |
foundations much prior to those of the capital OF |
.ksl
(by which the people went to the mysteries of |
Eleusis) we reach the Ceremicus, or cemetery OF |
that oldeu time, much Of which has been buried ten
to fifteen feet in depth, largely with the rubbish
thrown out from the city. Recent excavations
have brought to view many interesting tombs,
and some fine memorial statuary. One group
was erected to the memory of youth who fell in
the Peloponnesan War. Generally the graves
are marked by round pillars on which is engraved
the name Of the deceased and his family and his
age. Rarely was anything further inscribed, ex-
cept in the OF those who fell in battle or were
eminent in public service.
A little beyond, on this western side of the city,
were the groves and walks of the Academy Here
Plato loved to STROLL and here the youth OF Athens
heard from the great but modest pupil OF Socrates
the words OF wisdom that their fathers had vainly
trieo 10 quench Win death Inc place Is still
called the Academy, though the ground, soping
gently down 10 the bed OF the Cephissns, is
now covered by orchards OF olives and figs and
oranges ana fruitful vineyards We know the
sites of other temples and colonnades than those
we nave mentioned, but no traces of even the
foundations now exist, and we can only imagine
what Athens was In its best time Something
more OF It's relics may be seen in other museums
besides that on the Acropolis. few sculptures
OF merit are temporarily lodged In the Theseum.
others, together with a large number of vases,
utensils, ornaments and inscriptions, are found in
q building called the Barbakeiop Yet not n few |
perfect statues and mul,,,,do ~ s.roonha,, 81
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n'o"uhen's, are IN the open air-rarely sheltered
from the rain-and for lack of room must there
remain till a suitable permanent abdino.nIace Ia
rro,,aaa %, ,ho,, -, ~ f
p'N 'o' ."e"', srahu museum vi scuip-
ture Is projected; 1t ought to be established at
once, but public improvements come slowly when
tho ravennes ~ ,ha .,..o 80 ,.,.,,aa.,... -.
y. '"o 'N"'e "'o 'nS"'noien' W meet
the expenses oil the government. Greece has i'm
proved greatly since 1t escaped the domination of
the Turks Athans tho rodorr .ou,, 4. -,
49,, Wv '''ue'" Vo""' 10 inuoh
hke tnri'ing CITY OF America It has, In the
newer part broad and well paved streets and sub
stantia, buildinps Retter botels ara not to,na
In an, o,,,, =, F.. 9 80 . ~. 'o""u
~ ""S Guy vi hurope' len 10 Twelve francs per
day Will secure good rooms and an excellent table. |