1.724. Clouds of frankincense and myrrh.] Σμυρνης δ' ανυδρες καπνος Εις οροφες Φοιβε πέταλαι. thick clouds of incense rise E'en to the roof of Phoebus' fane. 1. 725. Spoils of war] The conquerors of Marathon and Platea consecrated a part of the spoil to the Pythian God.' It was usual for the conquerors to suspend the spoils of the vanquished in the temples. Take care (said the Platæans to the Lacedæmonians) lest you 'be accused of perpetrating an act of injustice, if you suspend in the com'mon temples the spoils taken from us, the benefactors of Greece.'' There were different kinds of bucklers suspended in the temples, sometimes those which had been won from the enemy, sometimes what were called votive bucklers, made expressly for the occasion." 1.727. Deep in the vale] The Hippodrome' for the celebration of the Pythian games, was situated below the town, in a valley lying between Parnassus and Cirphis. It extended, however, into the Crissæan plain, as we learn from Sophocles.* 1. 731. Ïo Pæan.] The cry of exultation in honour of Apollo. 1η ιη Παΐηον ακεομεν ἕνεκα τελο Δελφος τοι πρώτισον εφύμνιον ἑυρέζο λαος The shouts of lo Pæan rend the sky, Of thy unerring bow. The origin of the cry is explained by Athenæus." 1.732. The mighty Pindar.] Not far from the altar is placed the chair of • Pindar. It is made of iron, and upon it they say that Pindar used to sit when ' ever he came to Delphi, and sing the poems which he had composed in 'honour of Apollo.' Of Persia came ] Herodotus's account of the attack of Delphi by the Persians, and of their defeat, is graphic and poetical. Επει δε αίχε τε εσαν οι βαρβαροι επιονίες, και απώρεον το ίρον, εν τέλῳ ὁ προφήτης τῷ ονομα ην Ακηρατος, όρα προ τε νη8 όπλα εσωθεν εκ τε προκείμενα μεγαρο εξενηνειόμενα ίρα, των εκ όσιον ην άπλεσθαι ανθρωπων εδενι. ὁ μεν δη ηἴε Δελφων τοισι παρεεσι σημανέων το τερας. δι δε βαρβαροι επειδη εινονο επειδομενοι κατα το ίρον της προνοίΐης Αθηναίης, επιδινεται σφι τερεα ετι μείζονα, πριν ΓεΓενημενα τερεος. Θαῦμα μεν Γαρ και τέτο καρτα εςι, όπλα αρηία αυτοματα φανηναι έξω προκειμενα τε νης, τα δε δη επι τελῳ δεύτερα επιδενόμενα και δια παντων φασμάτων αξία θωύμασαι μαλιςα επει Γαρ δη εσαν επιοίες οι βαρβαροι καλα το ίρον της προνοίΐης Αθηναίης, εν τέλῳ εκ μεν τε ερανε κεραυνοι αυτοισι ενεπιπζον, απο δε τε Παρνησσε αποῤῥάδεισαι δυο κορυφαι έφερον ο πολλῳ παλαίῳ ες αύλες, και κατελαβον συχνες σφεων εκ δε τε ίρα της προνοίνης βοη τε και αλαλαίμος Γινέλο. Συμμιζενίων δη τελεων παντων φόβος τοισι βαρβάροισι ενεπεπίωκεε. μαθονες δε οι Δελφοί φευδονίας σφεας επικαλαβανίες απέκλειναν πληθος τι αύξεων. ὁι δε περιτονίες ιθυ Βοιωίων εφενδον ελεγον δε δι απονοςησαντες ελοι των βαρβαρων (ως εδω πυνθανομαι) ως προς τέλοισι και αλλα ώρων θεια δυο Γαρ ὁπλίας μέζονας η καλα ανθρωπων φυσιν εχονίας επεσθαι σφι κλεινονίας και διωκονίας. 'But when the Barbarians approached and were now in sight of the temple, a prophet, by name Aceratus, beholds the sacred armour, which had been 'deposited in the inmost recesses of the temple, and which no mortal is al'lowed to touch, brought out and laid at the vestibule. Upon seeing which 'he went instantly and related the prodigy to those Delphians who were near * at hand. But when the Barbarians, pressing hastily forward, arrived at the 'sacred precinct of the temple of Minerva, there prodigies more wonderful ' than those which had before happened, met their view. That the martial armour should of its own accord appear lying on the outside of the vesti'bule was sufficiently marvellous; but the event which now occurred was of 'all miracles the most worthy of admiration. For when the Barbarians had 'advanced as far as the sacred precinct of the temple of Minerva, immediately the lightnings of Heaven fell upon them, and the two peaks torn 'from Parnassus were rolled down with a tremendous crash, and crushed many of them to death, and from the temple were heard shouts as of victory. 7 Paus. 1. x. c. 24. Herod. 1. viii. c. 37. Upon hearing all this mingled uproar, fear fell upon the Barbarians; and 'the Delphians, perceiving that they fled, descended from the rocks, and falling upon them killed many. Those who survived fled to Boeotia, and reported (as I have heard) that they had seen most wonderful prodigies in ' addition to those already mentioned; for that two armed warriors of larger stature than mortal had followed them in their flight, slaying and destroying.' Pausanias,' in his history of the attack of the oracle, by the Gauls under Brennus, describes the enemy as being repulsed by a succession of similar prodigies. He particularly mentions the thunder and lightning, the convulsion of the rocks, and the supernatural appearance of the avenging heroes. 1.755. The road where Laïus bled.] 'Leaving Delphi we traversed a wild ' and rugged road along the range of Parnassus. This road was formerly 'called Schisté,' and on it Laius was murdered by his son Edipus. In about 'two hours we came to Aracova, romantically situated on the brow of a steep crag. In an hour and a half, descending from the sides of Parnassus into a 'plain, we came to a place where the present aspect of the country marks the 'ancient direction of three roads; one from Delphi, by which we came; one 'towards the north, which may have led to Daulis; and one to the east to'wards Athens. Here I should fix the place where Laius was killed and his 'tomb erected: Φωκις μεν ή Γη κληζεται Σχιση δ' όδος Ες ταύλο Δελφων καπο Δαυλιας αδει. In Phocis is a road Called Schisté, where two branches parting, lead 'The tombs of Laius and of his attendant (says Pausanias') are in the middle ' of the three ways, and upon them stones are heaped. From this plain (the 'same writer adds) a steep way leads to Delphi. This is exactly the case, and confirms the conjecture that this was the place where Laius was murdered. The road begins to ascend Parnassus ' almost immediately.' Journal. 9 Pausan. 1. x. 23. Callimachus, in his description of the Gallic invasion of Delphi, has not selected the most striking and poetical circumstances. See Callim. Hym. in Del. I. 171. Paus. x. c. 5. 2 * Sophoc. Edip. Tyrann. 1. 733.. Paus. 1. x. c. 5. 6 1.760. Cave of Trophonius.] Pausanias' says that this celebrated cave 'was situated in a grove on the mountain; that the excavation was not natural, but effected by art; that in form it resembled an oven; and lastly, 'that the diameter was four cubits. In most of these particulars the cavern 'which was shewn me by Herasimo Melona (a Cephaloniote of some learning ' and intelligence) as the oracle of Trophonius, agrees tolerably well. It is a 'small square hole in a rock, on the side of the mountain, and above the town, evidently formed by art, with a stone seat on each side. High cliffs ' rise perpendicularly above it, and near the mouth of the cave are several oblong excavations in the wall of different sizes, probably for the reception 'of statues, or tablets bearing inscriptions. It disagrees in one particular, ' which may however be accounted for by the change and removal of the land adjoining. It is now entered by ascent, whereas anciently those who repaired 'to consult the oracle descended: ώς δεδοικ ̓ εδω Εισω καλαβαινων, ώσπερ ες Τροφωνικ. 'A fountain gushes out of the rock close below the cave.' Pausanias says 'there were two streams, one of Memory, the other of Oblivion. A few yards 'from this is the spring of the river, anciently called Hercyna. It bubbles 4 Phniss. 1.37. 5 Sophocl. Ed. Tyran. 1. 1398. Paus. 1. ix. c. 39. 7 Aristoph. Nubes, 1. 506. See also Pausan. ix. c. 39. and Strabo, 1. ix. p. 602, and Livy, xlv. c. 27. Paus. Id. ib. ર up from amidst some stones, falls over rocks, descends through the town, and 'traversing the plain, falls into the Cephissus. In its course to the plain, it 'waters many gardens, and turns mills. It was supposed to be one entrance 'to the infernal regions.' Journal. Those who had descended into the cave of Trophonius, never laughed again.1 1. 761. Charonea's plain.] We left Livadia, and descended into a plain covered with gardens. The town presented a singular appearance, extending up the side of a hill, and surmounted by a bold rock, on which are the ruins of an ancient castle, with lofty mountains in the back ground. We 'deviated from the direct road to Thebes, in order to pass over the plain of 'Chæronea. We traversed some very barren hills, and descended into the plain. It is narrow, not more than a mile in breadth, terminated to the W. by Parnassus, whose aspect is bold and rugged, and when we saw it, capped 'with clouds. The plain is open to the S. E. and extends in that direction through a space of about three hours ride, or twelve miles.' Journal. 1.767. Ogygian Thebes.] The word Ogygian' is used by the Greek poets to signify very ancient. At the sight of Thebes, that most eloquent description of Theban desolation, by a great Athenian orator, will occur to the traveller's recollection. 3 Επειδη τοις σωμασιν ε παρεξενεσθε, αλλα ταις δε διανοίαις αποβλέψαι αυτων εις τας συμφορας, και νομισαῖε ὁρᾷν αλισκομενην την πολιν, τείχων καλασκαρας, εμπρησεις οικίων, αδομενας Γυναικας και παίδας εις δέλειαν, πρεσβύτας ανθρωπος, πρεσβυλίδας Γυναικας, οψε μεταμανθανονίας την ελευθερίαν, κλαιονίας, εκελευονίας ὑμας. . . . . 'Since ye cannot in your persons be present, let your imaginations be'hold the miseries of Thebes. Think that ye behold the city taken, the 'walls destroyed, the houses wrapped in flames, the women and children led ' into captivity; old men, aged matrons weeping, imploring your protection, ' and learning, when it is too late, the blessings of that liberty which they never must enjoy again. Lucian. Necyom. t. i. p. 486. Athenæus, xiv. c. 2. Eschyl. Persæ. 1. 37. See also Spanheim's note on the 14th line of Callim. Hym. in Jov. Aschin. in Ctesiph. |