DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.791#0129
57
CHAPTER IX
THORICUS.
Thoricus, one of the demi of Attica, was situated in a plain upon the eastern coast about eight
miles to the north of cape Sunium. The plain is embraced on three sides by a range of hills
which circle round the bay: towards the east it is open to the harbour, now called Porto-mandri.
Thoricus derived its importance from its vicinity to the silver mines of Laurium ; these were
situated in a range of mountains extending in a direction nearly north and south from the port of
Prasise, now called Raphti, on the eastern coast ten miles to the north of Thoricus, to the southern
shore. The extremities of this range are now called Mauron-ores, and Lauron-ores, both
corruptions of Acwgov ogog: these tracts are strewn over with cinders and scoria. The town was
fortified during the twenty-sixth year of the Peloponnesian war, and a garrison was placed there, as
well as at Anaphlystus on the southern coast, and at Besa, midway between'the two places, for
the protection of the mines.
A little below a conical hill, on which the ancient citadel is supposed to have been erected, are
the remains of a singular building, half buried in the soil brought down by torrents from the
surrounding hills, and covered by mastic bushes, which have overspread the spot.
A number of labourers having been procured from the village of Keratia, about eight miles to
the north-east of Thoricus, the brush-wood was cut down, and the soil cleared away to the depth
of five or six feet. The lower parts of a Doric portico, having fourteen columns in the fronts, and
seven in each return, were thus exposed.
The central interval between the columns of the fronts was enlarged after the usual manner of
the Greeks, when the destination of the building demanded a wide approach; whilst in the
CHAPTER IX
THORICUS.
Thoricus, one of the demi of Attica, was situated in a plain upon the eastern coast about eight
miles to the north of cape Sunium. The plain is embraced on three sides by a range of hills
which circle round the bay: towards the east it is open to the harbour, now called Porto-mandri.
Thoricus derived its importance from its vicinity to the silver mines of Laurium ; these were
situated in a range of mountains extending in a direction nearly north and south from the port of
Prasise, now called Raphti, on the eastern coast ten miles to the north of Thoricus, to the southern
shore. The extremities of this range are now called Mauron-ores, and Lauron-ores, both
corruptions of Acwgov ogog: these tracts are strewn over with cinders and scoria. The town was
fortified during the twenty-sixth year of the Peloponnesian war, and a garrison was placed there, as
well as at Anaphlystus on the southern coast, and at Besa, midway between'the two places, for
the protection of the mines.
A little below a conical hill, on which the ancient citadel is supposed to have been erected, are
the remains of a singular building, half buried in the soil brought down by torrents from the
surrounding hills, and covered by mastic bushes, which have overspread the spot.
A number of labourers having been procured from the village of Keratia, about eight miles to
the north-east of Thoricus, the brush-wood was cut down, and the soil cleared away to the depth
of five or six feet. The lower parts of a Doric portico, having fourteen columns in the fronts, and
seven in each return, were thus exposed.
The central interval between the columns of the fronts was enlarged after the usual manner of
the Greeks, when the destination of the building demanded a wide approach; whilst in the