Burrow, Edward John: The Elgin Marbles: With an abridged historical and topographical account of Athens (London, 1837)

IS

and some grasshoppers and locusts. A drunken
old woman, also, at Smyrna, by the same
Myron, has been classed by Pliny among the
most perfect specimens of art; not, fortunately
for his taste, among the most select or capti-
vating subjects of it.

Archons*
A mere list of the archons belongs rather,
perhaps, to the chronology, than the biogra-
phy, of Athens; but, as an extremely useful
aid in the study of both, it may not improperly
be subjoined in the present place. The Athe-
nian magistrates who bore the general title of
archon (ag^m, ruler) were nine in number.
Upon theirelection, they were rigidly examined
as to their descent and qualifications, and
were obliged, by oath, to observe and admini-
ster the laws with impartiality ; and, if they
offended in this respect, to dedicate to the
Delphian Apollo a statue of gold equal in
weight to their own bodies. Their persons
were deemed sacred, and as a distinction they
wore chaplets of myrtle. These nine were
subdivided into three degrees. The first, xccr