Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1913-04-11

of peninsula jutting into the
Aegean sea. the mountain shoots up more tnan
5000 feet, and its peak Of white limestone Is q
landmark for many lies out to sea- The old
Greek legend was thze the giant Athos hurled
this mountain at the gods upon Olympus, Dut
that 1t dropped back and fell at the edge OF the
sea.
The entire peninsula OF which Mount Atnos
forms the southernmost point, Is about lorty
miles long and from four to seven miles In width
emf nv numerous rayines and by long arms OF
the sea. The narrow isthmus which connects the
mountain with the main peninsula was cut py q
canal built by Xerxes when he came to invade
Greece and traces Of the canal are still visible
though 1t has long since become dry land.
The slopes of Mount Athos have for many CEN
turtles been the home OF monks ana nermits OF
the Greek church Most Of the nonasteries
which cling to the steep slopes of the mountain
were founded by Byzantine emperors; one OF
the Oldest the monastery of ST. Laura, has been
in existence since $685. There are still several
thousand monks living upon the mountain sup
porting themselves by filling hillside farms and
living very much as their predecessors did
thousand years ago.
In 500 years no woman has been allowed to
set foot on Athos Few travellers ever come to
Athos. II lies out OF the beaten track Of travel,
and the monks would not welcome intruders
Since the fall OF the Byzantine empire and
Constantinople. In 1853, Athos has been nomi-
have been liberal in their treatment of the Greek
Catholic monks. and have permitted them prac-
tfcally to govern themselves. council COM
posed OF representatives Of the several monas
teries has maintained law and order in the col
ony
The comparatively few English and European
travellers who have ever been to Athos unite In
enthusiastic praise of the natural beauties OF the
place The steep sides of the mountains are heav
ily wooded with huge oak and chestnut trees.
while here and there pine and cypress give
touch of deeper color. The roads wind In and
out along the mountain side, frequently afording
glimpses of the deep blue sea which frets at
Athos' feet.
Through the Middle Ages the Athos monas-
teries were the treasure houses in which much
Of the learning and culture of the Greeks was
preserved to the world The monks must have
spent world of time patiently copying the
works of the old masters, and the libraries OF
Athos. even today contain much that Is fascinat-
ing to the ANTIQUARIAN and the booklover. But
the monks themselves have fallen into sad igno
rance: the libraries of the monasteries are little
used and some of them have been permitted to
go completely to rack.
At Mount Athos according to legend, the Vir-
gin Mary and st. Thomas were wrecked and then
miraculously saved: and since that day OF grace
no female foot has been allowed to tread the
peninsula or Athos: indeed. since the eleventh
century no female animals whatever have been
permitted there. 1t IL said that the only excep-
ton ever made to this rule In the last i've hun
dred years was in. favor OF Lady Stratford de
Radcliffe and it is kept SO strictly that not only
must the whole population be masculine but
hens even may not live Oh the rock, hence all
the eggs. Of which great number are consumed
are imported. The population Of the Holy Noun
tain, called generally The Garden Of the Moth
er Of God" is between six and seven thousand.
made up Of some three thousand monks and three
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