DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4098#0527
MOUNT HYMETTOS. 479
which is upon it, and which occupies the site of AuftTrpau xuBmefav,
or Upper Lampra. Hymettos rises gently from the northern
and southern extremities to its summit :* its eastern and western
sides are abrupt and rocky : its outline, as seen from Athens, is
even and regular; but its sides are furrowed by the winter torrents,
and its base is broken into many small insular hills, of a conical
form; on some of which are the slight remains of ancient buildings.
When viewed from Pentelikon, where its breadth only is seen,
it resembles Mount Vesuvius in its form. The lowest, or most
northern point, which is nearest to Pentelikon, rises above the de-
serted monastery8 of uyiog luxwyg o wjvriyog, " Saint John the Hunter,"
which contains nothing of any interest, except an ancient well of
great depth: a small glen separates this point from another to the
south. One branch diverges from the summit with undulating de-
clivities to the southern side of Port Raphte, where it takes the
name of Mavpcv o^a-t, joining Mount Laurion. The other, or prin-
cipal branch, sloping down for some miles, in a southern direction,
forms a glen between it and Anudros, or the lesser Hymettos;
which is merely a continuation of the same mountain, terminating
one of its branches at Cape Zoster. Meursius, speaking of Hymet-
tos says, " Geminus erat; unus major, alter minor, Awtyog dictus."
Except towards its base, Hymettos has hardly any soil : the
rocks are in general composed of a calcarious yellow stone. On
the western side near the monastery of Kareas, is an ancient quarry
of grey marble, that is visible from Athens: it contains some fine
masses of white marble ; but which is so much mixed with strata of
green mica, that it is not comparable to the Pentelic.
It is needless to enumerate the ancient authors who celebrate the
honey and the flowers of Hymettos; on this subject Theophrastus3
may be consulted: Julius Pollux4 praises its gum and its thyme:
1 It bears s. GO E. from the monument of Philopappos.
~ Bearing from the monument of Philopappos, n. 80 E.
3 Hist. Plant, b. 6. c. 3. * Onomast. b. 6. c. 10. seg. 67.
which is upon it, and which occupies the site of AuftTrpau xuBmefav,
or Upper Lampra. Hymettos rises gently from the northern
and southern extremities to its summit :* its eastern and western
sides are abrupt and rocky : its outline, as seen from Athens, is
even and regular; but its sides are furrowed by the winter torrents,
and its base is broken into many small insular hills, of a conical
form; on some of which are the slight remains of ancient buildings.
When viewed from Pentelikon, where its breadth only is seen,
it resembles Mount Vesuvius in its form. The lowest, or most
northern point, which is nearest to Pentelikon, rises above the de-
serted monastery8 of uyiog luxwyg o wjvriyog, " Saint John the Hunter,"
which contains nothing of any interest, except an ancient well of
great depth: a small glen separates this point from another to the
south. One branch diverges from the summit with undulating de-
clivities to the southern side of Port Raphte, where it takes the
name of Mavpcv o^a-t, joining Mount Laurion. The other, or prin-
cipal branch, sloping down for some miles, in a southern direction,
forms a glen between it and Anudros, or the lesser Hymettos;
which is merely a continuation of the same mountain, terminating
one of its branches at Cape Zoster. Meursius, speaking of Hymet-
tos says, " Geminus erat; unus major, alter minor, Awtyog dictus."
Except towards its base, Hymettos has hardly any soil : the
rocks are in general composed of a calcarious yellow stone. On
the western side near the monastery of Kareas, is an ancient quarry
of grey marble, that is visible from Athens: it contains some fine
masses of white marble ; but which is so much mixed with strata of
green mica, that it is not comparable to the Pentelic.
It is needless to enumerate the ancient authors who celebrate the
honey and the flowers of Hymettos; on this subject Theophrastus3
may be consulted: Julius Pollux4 praises its gum and its thyme:
1 It bears s. GO E. from the monument of Philopappos.
~ Bearing from the monument of Philopappos, n. 80 E.
3 Hist. Plant, b. 6. c. 3. * Onomast. b. 6. c. 10. seg. 67.