DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4098#0245
218 ORACULAR CAVERN OF TROPHONIOS.
and other associated embellishments of an elegant superstition, were
devoutly levelled' with the ground. "But ye; shall destroy their
altars, break their images, and cut down their groves/'1—This was
the order the Jews received from Moses, and which the Christians
adopted and implicitly obeyed, to the great detriment of architec-
ture and sculpture. Gonstantine the Great destroyed the temples
of the gods, and converted their brazen statues into money.2 The
cavern had two mouths, one sacred, the other profane: near the square
chamber already mentioned there is a small orifice in the rock, not
three feet in height, and about six in depth ; some have supposed this
to be one of the entrances, but it is more probable they are concealed
under the present surface, which appears to have been considerably
elevated. It is indeed almost certain, that the Trophonian cavern,
with its subterraneous wonders and oracular curiosities, might be
brought to-light by a little expense and perseverance.
Pausanias is rather obscure respecting its situation. Strabo3 calls
the cavern Xxa-^cc, Pausanias4 and Suidas5 K«T«/3acnoi>; the latter au-
thor says that it contained serpents. Lucian denominates it 1,-wviXatov.6
Annual games called Trophonia were celebrated at Lebadeia in ho-
nour of the subterranean divinity.
The modern castle occupies the site of the ancient Medeia,
which became the Acropolis when the city was constructed in the
plain. This hill exhibits scarcely any ancient traces, but in the
castle walls are some large blocks of stone, which have descended
from more ancient times. Here is a deep subterraneous chamber
cut in the rock ; the bottom was covered with water, and it was pro-
bably a cistern. The Acropolis commands a grand and extensive
view ; to the north-west Parnassos branches out in one direction
towards Delphi, and towards Elateia on the opposite. To the
1 Exodus, c. 34. v. 13. "- Euseb. Life of Constantine, b. 3. 3 B. 9. * B. 9-
3 In voce Tpofuifwg. About this oracle see Erasm. Chiliad, and Euseb. prseparat. Evang.
b. 5. c. 8. 6 Dialog. Mort. Menip. Amphiloc. Trophon.
and other associated embellishments of an elegant superstition, were
devoutly levelled' with the ground. "But ye; shall destroy their
altars, break their images, and cut down their groves/'1—This was
the order the Jews received from Moses, and which the Christians
adopted and implicitly obeyed, to the great detriment of architec-
ture and sculpture. Gonstantine the Great destroyed the temples
of the gods, and converted their brazen statues into money.2 The
cavern had two mouths, one sacred, the other profane: near the square
chamber already mentioned there is a small orifice in the rock, not
three feet in height, and about six in depth ; some have supposed this
to be one of the entrances, but it is more probable they are concealed
under the present surface, which appears to have been considerably
elevated. It is indeed almost certain, that the Trophonian cavern,
with its subterraneous wonders and oracular curiosities, might be
brought to-light by a little expense and perseverance.
Pausanias is rather obscure respecting its situation. Strabo3 calls
the cavern Xxa-^cc, Pausanias4 and Suidas5 K«T«/3acnoi>; the latter au-
thor says that it contained serpents. Lucian denominates it 1,-wviXatov.6
Annual games called Trophonia were celebrated at Lebadeia in ho-
nour of the subterranean divinity.
The modern castle occupies the site of the ancient Medeia,
which became the Acropolis when the city was constructed in the
plain. This hill exhibits scarcely any ancient traces, but in the
castle walls are some large blocks of stone, which have descended
from more ancient times. Here is a deep subterraneous chamber
cut in the rock ; the bottom was covered with water, and it was pro-
bably a cistern. The Acropolis commands a grand and extensive
view ; to the north-west Parnassos branches out in one direction
towards Delphi, and towards Elateia on the opposite. To the
1 Exodus, c. 34. v. 13. "- Euseb. Life of Constantine, b. 3. 3 B. 9. * B. 9-
3 In voce Tpofuifwg. About this oracle see Erasm. Chiliad, and Euseb. prseparat. Evang.
b. 5. c. 8. 6 Dialog. Mort. Menip. Amphiloc. Trophon.