Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-18
BIT OF ATHENS HERE
nc Editor Of the Eucning Ledger:

To tho Editor Of the EUcntng Ledger
sr-The structure whose photograph Is
reproduced in the pictorial section OF the
EVENING LEDGER tonight is the lantern
or architectural ornament on the roof of the
old Stock Exchange Building at Third and
Dock streets.
1t may interest your readers to learn that
il is almost an exact copy, on much re-
duCed scale, Of a beautiful small building
still standing in Athens and known as the
Monument of Lysicratcs. 1t also gives its
name to the street in Athens on which it
stands GIodoN Lusikratous). The mcnu-
ment owes it's existence to the custom or
the winners at the Dionysiac games of eX-
hibiting the prizes won by them on very
ornamental pedestals. From the centee
of the cotlyeX roof OF the little building
rises Gin marble) conventionallzed acan-
thus plant (whose leaves compose the Co.
rinthian captaD. On the acanthus plant
rests triangular slab of marble, and this
in turn was the pedestal sustaining the
bronze tripod the trophy of victory In a
musical contest awarded to Lysicrates. in
whose honor tho monument was con-
structed. An inscription on the monument
reads:
"Lysicrates was master of ceremonies
when the boy choir of the phyle Acamantis
won the prize. Theon was the flute player;
LSsiades of Athens trained the choir
Euaenotos was archon."
The name of the archon enables us to
fix the date of erection as 335 B. c., when
the school of PraXiteles was in full bloom.
The frieze represents the punishment Of
pirates by Dionysos, the god of alcoholic
drinks (among other things). This legend
| forms the subject of the sixth Homeric
! hymn. and was perhaps the theme chosen
| for performance by the choir. The various
| punishments inflicted on the pirates are
| depleted In different scenes. In one scene
| two of them are seen In despair leapng
| into the sea.
It is remarkable how history repeats It.
| self. In our own time piracy has been
| revived by northern race. Some of them
| are captured, and now as In the days of
| old they are punished by the god of alco-
| holc drink, in that they are sent Gas If by
| the irony of fate) to Atlanta, where no
such refreshments are TO be had. To a
| pirate this is in very sooth, to suffer the
| tortures of the damned" Moreover. to
| complete the story, two of the pirates
| escaped (when they were at League Island)
| by leaping overheard. This also (as stated
above) is graphically represented on the
| monument
This little building will ever be of In
terest to architects. in that It is the old
est extant specimen of the Corinthian order
To men of letters also It is of surpass
ing interest. Until the early part of tn,
nineteenth century It was inclosed within
the grounds of the French Capuchin monas
terry In Athens, and was used by the friar,
as their library. Lord Byron while II
Athens stayed for a while at this monas
terry and. according to tradition, wrot,
some of his poetry in tat very library
This thought Is commen.orated in Athen
today by the fact that nearby street 4
called Byron street.
ARTHUR w. HOwES,
Professor Of Latin, Central High School.
Philadelphia, April IL.