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line, it is supposed that he was a Christian. If this be
true, it must have been some Christian who had imbibed
the doctrine of the pre-existence of the soul; as appears
from an allusion to it in the fifth line; but the general
tenor of the composition, and some of the particular
expressions, rather prove that it was written by one of the
later Platonists.

1. CKHNOCΜΕΝΓΕΝΕΤΗΡΕΣ ΕΠΕΙΓΕΡΑCECIOANOYCI
2. ΤΕΙΜΩΝTECΚΛΑΙECKONANAΙΣΘΗΤΩΙΠΕΡΙΤΥΜΒΩΙ
3. ΨΥΧΗ ΔΕΣΤΟΔΙΚΑΙΟΝΕΒΗΗΝΔ' ΟΥΝΟΜΑΤΟΥΜΟΝ
4. ΝΗΔΥΜΟCI'ΤΑΛΙΚΗ ΑΔΑΗ ΕΠΑΙCHMEPOCOΝΤΩΣ
5. ΟΥΚΗΜΗΝΕΜΠΡΟΣΘΕΠΟΛΥΝΧΡΟΝΟΝΕΙΤΕΓΕΝΗΘΗΝ
6. ΕΙΣΟΛΙΓΩΝΕΤΕΩΝΕΝΑΡΙΘΜΙΟCACTATOCAIΩN

7. ΟΥΚΑΝΕΔΡΑCTONEΧΩΝΙΔΙΟΝ ΔΡΟΜΟΝΗ Δ' ΕΛΑΧΕΝTIC
8. MOIPHCTAYTHNEΚΤΕΛΕΣΕΙ ΚΑΙ ΓΑΡΒΑΣΙΛHEC
9. ΤΑΥΤΕΠΕΓΡΑΨΕΠΑΤΗΡΟΖΩCIMOCΕΙΝΕΚΕΜΕΙΟ
10. AEIMNHTO ΕΧΩ ΨΥΧΗ ΠΟΘΟΝΑΘΑΝΑΤΟΙΟ

CHAP. II.

[blocks in formation]

1. 3.

ΤΕΙΜΩΝΤΕ for ΤΕΙΜΩΝTEC, Wheler.

ΑΝΑΙΣΘΗΤΟΝ ΠΕΡΙ ΘΥΜΒΟΝ for ΑΝΑΙΣΘΗΤΩΙΠΕΡΙΤΥΜΒΩΙ, Spon.
AEC for A'EC, Muratori, Wheler, and Spon.

ΔΟΥΝΟΜΑ for Δ' ΟΥΝΟΜΑ, Μuratori, Wheler, and Spon.

1. 4. ΝΗΔΙΜOC for ΝΗΔΥΜΟC, Muratori.

ITAAIKHC for ITAAIKHC, Muratori, Wheler, and Spon."

IMEPOC for HMEPOC, Wheler and Spon.

EMEPOCOE for EMIPOCOE, Wheler.

1. 5.

[blocks in formation]

1. 7. ANAAPACTON for ANEAPACTON; also EXEI for EXON, Muratori.

1. 9. ΤΑΥΤΑΕΠΕΓΡΑΨΕ for ΤΑΥΤΕΠΕΓΡΑΨΕ, Muratori.

The

CHAP. II.

The following is a literal translation of the original.

"MY PARENTS, HONOURING MY BODY, WEPT AROUND A SENSELESS TOMB, SINCE SUCH IS THE TRIBUTE TO THE DEAD: BUT I, A SOUL, WENT TO THE ABODE SUITED TO ME. MY NAME WAS NEDYMUS, IN TRUTH THE GENTLE SON OF THE ITALIAN ADAE. I HAD NOT EXISTED LONG IN A PREVIOUS STATE; THEN I WAS BORN TO NUMBER A FEW YEARS, ALWAYS IN MOTION, HAVING MY PECULIAR COURSE TO RUN, FROM WHICH I COULD NOT ESCAPE; FOR THE DESTINY WHICH IS ASSIGNED TO EACH MAN, THAT HE MUST FULFIL; SINCE KINGS MUST DO THE SAME. MY FATHER ZOSIMUS WROTE THESE LINES ON MY ACCOUNT, FEELING AN IMMORTAL REGRET FOR AN IMMORTAL SOUL."

Copyes

Antient
Bulwark.

Upon the north side of the same Soros there is also an inscription; but the buttress of one of the arched niches of the altar of the chapel has been erected against it, in such a manner as to leave only a few of the characters visible. Upon a slab near this tomb we also saw the following:

ΕΠΙΖΗΝΩΝ ΤΗ

ΑΚΛΙΔΟΥΧΡΗ Ζ
ΤΟΥ

The chapel seems evidently to have been erected posterior to the construction of the tomb, from the manner in which one of its inscriptions has been concealed by the altar; and it is also evident, that it was built of materials derived from some more costly edifice. We observed fragments of the Verde Antico; and some inscribed marbles have been broken to form the pavement.

Returning from this chapel towards the town, we were struck by the very artificial appearance exhibited by a lofty hill upon the eastern side of it. The shape of this hill will

best

best be comprehended from a sketch made of it at the time. Perhaps there can be no doubt but that it formed a part of the antient fortifications; as there is another hill, equally artificial, near to it; and between the two there seems to have been the eastern gate, or entrance, to the old city. It consists, as to its form, of two cones, with truncated summits; the one smaller than the other. The smaller cone stands upon the larger, as upon a pedestal; thereby leaving room for a road all round its base, and having, in consequence of its truncated summit, a level plane, or terrace, upon its top'. The whole of this hill is now covered by turf, and no attempt has yet been made to injure its form by

excavation.

CHAP. II.

St. Demetrius.

Rare variety

of the Corinthian order in Architecture.

But the most curious part of the antiquities of Thebes Church of is in the Church of St. Demetrius, and upon the western side of it. There may still be seen the rarest specimens of architecture in Greece; namely, several beautiful capitals of that chaste and antient pattern of the Corinthian order ; which is entirely without volute for the corners, and has a single wreath of the simplest Acanthus foliage to crown its base. There is not in Europe a single instance of this most elegant variety of the Corinthian in any modern structure. In fact, it is only known to those persons who have seen the very few examples of it that exist among the ruins of the Grecian cities. There is no trace of it among the ruins of Rome; yet, in point of taste, it is so exceedingly superior to the more ornamented and crowded capital which

was

(1) See the Vignette to this Chapter.

CHAP. II. was afterwards introduced, that both the rival connoscenti of Athens, Lusieri and Fauvel, have designed and modelled it; and they have spoken of its discovery as forming an epocha in the history of the art. In one or two instances, the attention of the antient sculptor to simplicity has been so severe, that even the edges of the foliage have not been raffled (to borrow from the builder's vocabulary), but expressed in gross; and, consequently, the admirers of excessive minuteness, in the detail of little parts, would call such capitals, unfinished; although the grandeur of design, when viewed at the distance in which such objects were intended to be seen, especially in the majestic temples of Greece, be thereby considerably augmented. It is to this cause that the Doric, in buildings of SO much vastness, owes its superiority over all the other orders of architecture-to that simplicity which is the very soul of grandeur; where nothing that is little can be tolerated for an instant. Excessive minuteness of design, and of execution, may suit the puny imitations of Grecian architecture seen in the in the buildings of modern cities; upon the same principle that it is allowable in a piece of Chinese carving in ivory; because works of this kind are fitted for a small scope of observation; but when such minuteness is introduced into the vast features of a gigantic style, it becomes superfluous and contemptible,

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THEBES, TO THE GROVE OF THE MUSES IN MOUNT HELICON. Population of Thebes-Female inhabitants-Antient Gates of ThebesOther Antiquities-Medals-Remarkable Soros-Albanian MarketJourney to Citharon and Platea-View of the Cadmæan CitadelPlatana Village-Asopus-Source of the River-Traditions of the Battle of Platea-Condition of the Inhabitants-Camp of Mardonius -Situation of the Sacred Well-Platean Territory-Ruins of the City of Platea-Medals observed upon the spot-Mural Turrets of the Citadel-Cocla-Remains of LEUCTRA-Ruins at PhriaHelicon- Village of Neocorio-Doubts respecting the supposed Situation of Thespia-Medals-Discovery of the old Route over Helicon-Further Account of the Albanian Peasants-Journey over Mount Helicon-Monastery of St. Nicholo-Antiquities discovered there-Situation of the Fountain Aganippe and Grove of the Muses

ascertained

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