CHAP. IV. with the exception of the interesting remains at the sources of the river, our search after antiquities was almost made in vain. We could not obtain a single medal; and the few that we saw, upon the head-dresses of the women and children, were wretched ecclesiastical coins, or the still more barbarous impressions of the Turkish mint. We ascended to the Citadel, erected upon the summit of the rock above the Acropolis. Hieron of Trophonius; and found there the capital of a large pillar, of that most antient and rare variety of the Corinthian order, described in our account of Thebes. It is wrought of the hard black marble of the rocks whereon the citadel stands. Within the fortress we noticed a few fragments of antiquity, less worthy of notice than this capital; and in a Mosque near it, some inscriptions; but only one of them is entire, and this has been already published by Wheler: it is upon a block of marble over the door of the minaret. Another imperfect legend is upon a stone in the same building, also noticed by Wheler': they were moreover both published by his companion Spon. The name of the city occurs in these inscriptions variously written,— ΠΟΛΙΣ ΛΕΒΑΔΕΩΝ, and ΛΕΒΑΔΕΙΕΩΝ. From the fortress we observed the bearings of Charonéa and Orchomenus. CHERONEA bears north and by east, and is distant from LEBADEA One hour and a half. ORCHOMENUS, east-north-east, distant from LEBADEA two hours. The commerce of LEBADEA is very considerable. It carries (5) See Journey into Greece, pp. 327, 328. Lond. 1682. (6) Voyage de Grèce, et du Levant, tome II. pp. 266, 267. à la Haye, 1724. CHAP. IV. Commerce of carries on a thriving trade in the exportation, even to London, of corn and cotton, and of currant-raisins: the last article it sends from Patras. Its own port is Aspropiti, antiently ANTICYRA. The wine of ORCHOMENUS is also sold here: it is as good as old hock, having a similar flavour, but with less acidity: it is sometimes of the colour of the clearest spring water. The honey of LEBADEA is sent to the Grand Signior's seraglio; but in our opinion it was much inferior to the honey of ATHENS. We had brought some of the Athenian honey with us: they were both placed upon the table of the archon, to be compared: that of ATHENS was paler, but as clear as crystal; and so inspissated, that it might be cut with a knife. EXCURSIONS FROM LEBADÉA TO CHÆRONÉA AND ORCHOMENUS. The Author visits a Village called Capranû-Aspect of Parnassus-Ruins of Charonéa - Inscriptions-Aqueduct Theatre - AcropolisBattles of Charonéa-Tomb of the Thebans-Sceptre of Agamemnon Antiquities at the Church of Capranû-Marble Cathedra-Five Inscriptions upon one Tablet-Visit to a Village called RomaikoRemarkable Bas-relief-Visit to Screpú-River Melas-Tomb of Hesiod-Ruins of Orchomenus-Archaic Inscriptions-Hieron of the Graces-Inscriptions relating to the Charitesian GamesObservations on the Eolian Digamma-Homoloïa-Sophocles of Athens, mentioned as a Victor in Tragedy-Later InscriptionsHieron of Bacchus-Sciatericon of the antient City-Greek Epigram thereby illustrated-Treasury of Minyas-Proof of the VOL. IV. T antiquity CHAP. V. Aspect of Visit to antiquity of domes in architecture-Acropolis of OrchomenusCondition of the present inhabitants-Superstition respecting certain stones-Return to Lebadéa. ON N Thursday, December the tenth, we made an excursion across the plain, from Lebadéa; and passing a bridge, took a north-west direction, towards some hills, over which we rode, following the antient paved way to CHERONÉA. Descending these hills, we crossed a rivulet, and entered the Plain of Charonéa; thus divided from that of Lebadéa, but resembling the latter in its beauty and fertility. It extends from east-south-east to west-north-west; being about two miles in breadth, and ten or twelve in length. This plain is bounded towards the north-west and west by PARNASSUS, which entirely closes it in on that side, and exhibits one of the boldest and most striking barriers in nature, visible the whole way from Lebadéa; its sharp ridge alone being covered with snow, but all below appearing in bleak and rugged masses of primary limestone, of a grey aspect, except the base, and this is covered with shrubs and coppice. PARNASSUS universally bears, at present, the name of Lakůra : it stands, to all appearance, quite solitary; as if it suffered no other eminence to dispute with it the smallest portion of that sanctity, which originally extended over every part of the mountain'. The Ruins of Charonéa are on the western side of this plain a village called Capranú now occupies the site of them, distant only two hours, about six miles, from Lebadéa. This (1) 'Iepowpewns d'iorì nás ó IIapvaooós. Strabon. Geog. lib. ix. p.604. ed. Oxon. This we were enabled to ascertain by the antiquities we discovered upon the spot. The first inscription that we found mentions the inhabitants of CHERONÉA. It was upon a marble, in the corner of a small chapel at Capranú; and highly interesting at the moment of our arrival among the ruins of the city. It states, that “ THE SENATE AND PEOPLE OF THE CHERONÉANS HONOUR THE EMPEROR MACRINUS." co CHAP. V. Ruins of Charonea. Inscriptions. ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΟΡΑ ΜΟΝΟΑΛΙΟΝ CEBHPONMAKPEINON CEBACTΟΝΗΒΟΥ ΛΗΚΑΙΟΔΗΜΟΣ ΧΑΙΡΩΝΕΩΝ Hard by, upon the ground, we saw another inscription, upon marble, also satisfactory on account of its concurring local testimony. This last sets forth, that " CHAROPEINA, DAUGHTER OF TIBERIUS CLAUDIUS DIDYMUS, A PRIESTESS OF DIANA, IS HONOURED BY THE CHERONÉANS, FOR HER VIRTUE AND RELIGIOUS ATTENDANCE ON THE DEITY." The legend is as follows. ΗΒΟΥΛΗ ΚΑΙ ΟΔΗ ΜΟΣΧΑΙΡΩΝΕ ΩΝ, ΤΗΝ ΙΕΡ ΑΝ.ΤΗΣΑΡΤΕΜΙ ΔΟΣ.ΧΑΡΟ ΠΕΙΝΑΝ ΤΒ.ΚΛΑΥΔΙΟΥ.ΔΙΔΥ ΜΟΥ ΘΥΓΑΤΕΡΑ ΑΡΕΤΗΣΕΝΕΚΕΝ We |