DOI article:
Crow, John; Clarke, Joseph Thacher: The Athenian Pnyx
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8561#0238
THE ATHENIAN PNYX. 223
than the steps of the bema. These facts would lead to the supposi-
tion that they are older than the bema and rock wall.
Continuing our survey from the extremities of the back wall,
R and S, we come first upon the other two low rock walls mentioned
above. For a distance below these there is no boundary line what-
ever. Curtius supposes that there were entrances to the enclosure at
these places; they are marked "Gate?" on the survey. Still further
down we come upon the two ends of the great semicircular wall, a
structure no less interesting than is the back wall above/ The ends
consist of immense blocks of rock which lie at some distance from
each other, but in the line of the wall. The continuous wall begins
at the points fFand Y. Its greatest height is at the point A, opposite
the bema. It consists of enormous blocks of stone, almost rec-
tangular on the face, and skilfully fitted together without mortar.
The stones are of the same kind of rock as the back wall, and seem
to have been cut from the hill. Seventy-five blocks are still in
position. The largest block measures six by twelve feet, and many
others are but little smaller. There is what seems to be a rude
attempt at ornamentation by furrows, which are near the edges of
the stones and run parallel with the joints." The blocks of the
upper course are dressed smooth on top, as if to receive another
course. At the point marked Z on the survey there is a single block,
which rests on the native rock and rises to a height of three feet
above the wall as it now stands. This block is in the line of the
wall and is also dressed smooth on top. If, as Curtius suggests, the
smooth upper surface of the blocks of the upper course of the con-
tinuous wall furnishes sufficient evidence for assuming that the wall
was originally one course higher than it now is, this block furnishes
similar evidence that it was two courses higher. The portion still
standing is 5.13 metres high at the points, and has three courses
F. Dochvell, in the volume of plates cited page 233, note J, remarks on the
similarity of this masonry to that of the south-western side of the Gate of Lions at
Mycenae, a resemblance, however, which cannot be admitted as an argument in
favor of the view that the construction of the Pnyx is to be ascribed to an age
equally remote. The character of the walls, at both places, is largely determined
by the nature of the building material at hand. — J. T. C.
G. For an explanation of the origin of these furrows parallel to the joints, see
note /, page 228.
than the steps of the bema. These facts would lead to the supposi-
tion that they are older than the bema and rock wall.
Continuing our survey from the extremities of the back wall,
R and S, we come first upon the other two low rock walls mentioned
above. For a distance below these there is no boundary line what-
ever. Curtius supposes that there were entrances to the enclosure at
these places; they are marked "Gate?" on the survey. Still further
down we come upon the two ends of the great semicircular wall, a
structure no less interesting than is the back wall above/ The ends
consist of immense blocks of rock which lie at some distance from
each other, but in the line of the wall. The continuous wall begins
at the points fFand Y. Its greatest height is at the point A, opposite
the bema. It consists of enormous blocks of stone, almost rec-
tangular on the face, and skilfully fitted together without mortar.
The stones are of the same kind of rock as the back wall, and seem
to have been cut from the hill. Seventy-five blocks are still in
position. The largest block measures six by twelve feet, and many
others are but little smaller. There is what seems to be a rude
attempt at ornamentation by furrows, which are near the edges of
the stones and run parallel with the joints." The blocks of the
upper course are dressed smooth on top, as if to receive another
course. At the point marked Z on the survey there is a single block,
which rests on the native rock and rises to a height of three feet
above the wall as it now stands. This block is in the line of the
wall and is also dressed smooth on top. If, as Curtius suggests, the
smooth upper surface of the blocks of the upper course of the con-
tinuous wall furnishes sufficient evidence for assuming that the wall
was originally one course higher than it now is, this block furnishes
similar evidence that it was two courses higher. The portion still
standing is 5.13 metres high at the points, and has three courses
F. Dochvell, in the volume of plates cited page 233, note J, remarks on the
similarity of this masonry to that of the south-western side of the Gate of Lions at
Mycenae, a resemblance, however, which cannot be admitted as an argument in
favor of the view that the construction of the Pnyx is to be ascribed to an age
equally remote. The character of the walls, at both places, is largely determined
by the nature of the building material at hand. — J. T. C.
G. For an explanation of the origin of these furrows parallel to the joints, see
note /, page 228.