DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4098#0244
ORACULAR CAVERN OF TROPHONIOS. 217
Conciliarius of the Romans. Near this, the sacred fountain issues from
the rock by ten small modern spouts ; the water is extremely cold and
clear. On the opposite side of the channel is the source of the other
fount; the water of which, though not warm, is of a much higher tem-
perature than that of the other spring; it flows copiously from the rock.
The two springs of Memory and Oblivion, blending their waters, pass
under a modern bridge, and immediately form a rapid stream, the
ancient Hercyne : which contains excellent fish of a small size. In its
way through the town it turns several mills; and after a course of
a few miles enters Kopais lake. It is singular that Pliny1 calls this
river Orchomenus; his words are " In Bceotia, ad Trophonium deum,
juxta flumen Orchomenum, duo sunt fontes, quorum alter Memo-
riam, alter Oblivionem adfert." Pausanias2 says that the fountains
are within the cave; but his words must not be rigorously in-
terpreted. Those who consulted the oracle took the cold bath, but
not the hot. It has been already observed that the two springs
differ in their temperature. The channel above the sources of the
Hercyne is dry in summer : but in the winter it is sometimes rolled
into a rapid torrent by the force of the rains, and the streams of
melted snow from the neighbouring mountains. It is full of large
stones, belonging perhaps to the temples which were situated on its
banks, and which, by time and the repeated action of the winter
torrent, have lost their angles, and been reduced to their present
rounded form.
The oracular cavern was no doubt near this spot; the entrances
were small, and when the god had ceased to speak, and the place
was neglected, it might easily have been closed by an earthquake, or
the overflowing of the river; but it was more probably blocked up
by design, at the introduction of Christianity; when the altars, the
statues, and temples of the gods, together with the sacred forests,
Nat. Hist. b. 31. c. 2. = B. Q. c. 39- tv ™ <r7n,\acw,
VOL. I. 2 F
Conciliarius of the Romans. Near this, the sacred fountain issues from
the rock by ten small modern spouts ; the water is extremely cold and
clear. On the opposite side of the channel is the source of the other
fount; the water of which, though not warm, is of a much higher tem-
perature than that of the other spring; it flows copiously from the rock.
The two springs of Memory and Oblivion, blending their waters, pass
under a modern bridge, and immediately form a rapid stream, the
ancient Hercyne : which contains excellent fish of a small size. In its
way through the town it turns several mills; and after a course of
a few miles enters Kopais lake. It is singular that Pliny1 calls this
river Orchomenus; his words are " In Bceotia, ad Trophonium deum,
juxta flumen Orchomenum, duo sunt fontes, quorum alter Memo-
riam, alter Oblivionem adfert." Pausanias2 says that the fountains
are within the cave; but his words must not be rigorously in-
terpreted. Those who consulted the oracle took the cold bath, but
not the hot. It has been already observed that the two springs
differ in their temperature. The channel above the sources of the
Hercyne is dry in summer : but in the winter it is sometimes rolled
into a rapid torrent by the force of the rains, and the streams of
melted snow from the neighbouring mountains. It is full of large
stones, belonging perhaps to the temples which were situated on its
banks, and which, by time and the repeated action of the winter
torrent, have lost their angles, and been reduced to their present
rounded form.
The oracular cavern was no doubt near this spot; the entrances
were small, and when the god had ceased to speak, and the place
was neglected, it might easily have been closed by an earthquake, or
the overflowing of the river; but it was more probably blocked up
by design, at the introduction of Christianity; when the altars, the
statues, and temples of the gods, together with the sacred forests,
Nat. Hist. b. 31. c. 2. = B. Q. c. 39- tv ™ <r7n,\acw,
VOL. I. 2 F