DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4098#0580
DOUBTFUL SITUATION OF BRAURON. 529
Near this is a cross road ; that to the right leading to the village
of Bala, the other to the left to a village called Jalou. A short
way further another road leads to the right, to the village of Spata.
A dilapidated church adjoins the road, with two heaps of small
stones, that are probably not ancient. A dry well and some blocks
of stone are on the left; and some hundred paces further is the
Kalybia of Spata, from which it is distant half an hour; here is
also a well, and an ancient sarcophagus of stone. Having pro-
ceeded two hours and a half from Cephissia, we were gratified by
the first view of the sea of Eubcea, and the towering summits of
Karystos. In another hour we reached the village called Palaio-
Brauna, with a great quantity of low pine trees growing in the
vicinity. Half an hour more brought us to the village of Brauna,
where there is a modern ruined tower; here are some poplars and
a fine weeping willow, which trees are seldom seen in Greece.
Some1 have imagined that Brauna is the ancient Brauron; but
there are no remains, though there is a striking similarity in the
name. Brauron however was near Marathon ;2 and some place it at
the village of Brana or Urana, on the eastern side of Pentelikon ;
which Stuart3 asserts to be Berenikidai.
As we intended to pass the night at Port Raphte, which is unin-
habited, we endeavoured to purchase some provisions at Brauna; but
the villagers descrying our approach from a distance, with our asso-
ciated Turks, had time to shut up all their fowls, which are almost
the only food in Grecian villages ; and in answer to our earnest ap-
plication for a supply of this kind, gravely assured us, that they had
no fowls, and that none were to be procured. We next directed
our steps to the monastery, and begged the Hegoumenos to supply
our wants. The venerable monk did not fail to give us his solemn
assurance, that not a single fowl could be found in a circuit of
1 Stuart, vol. 3. p. 9- . ' * Pausan. b. I.e. 33. z Loc. cit.
VOL. I. 3 Y
Near this is a cross road ; that to the right leading to the village
of Bala, the other to the left to a village called Jalou. A short
way further another road leads to the right, to the village of Spata.
A dilapidated church adjoins the road, with two heaps of small
stones, that are probably not ancient. A dry well and some blocks
of stone are on the left; and some hundred paces further is the
Kalybia of Spata, from which it is distant half an hour; here is
also a well, and an ancient sarcophagus of stone. Having pro-
ceeded two hours and a half from Cephissia, we were gratified by
the first view of the sea of Eubcea, and the towering summits of
Karystos. In another hour we reached the village called Palaio-
Brauna, with a great quantity of low pine trees growing in the
vicinity. Half an hour more brought us to the village of Brauna,
where there is a modern ruined tower; here are some poplars and
a fine weeping willow, which trees are seldom seen in Greece.
Some1 have imagined that Brauna is the ancient Brauron; but
there are no remains, though there is a striking similarity in the
name. Brauron however was near Marathon ;2 and some place it at
the village of Brana or Urana, on the eastern side of Pentelikon ;
which Stuart3 asserts to be Berenikidai.
As we intended to pass the night at Port Raphte, which is unin-
habited, we endeavoured to purchase some provisions at Brauna; but
the villagers descrying our approach from a distance, with our asso-
ciated Turks, had time to shut up all their fowls, which are almost
the only food in Grecian villages ; and in answer to our earnest ap-
plication for a supply of this kind, gravely assured us, that they had
no fowls, and that none were to be procured. We next directed
our steps to the monastery, and begged the Hegoumenos to supply
our wants. The venerable monk did not fail to give us his solemn
assurance, that not a single fowl could be found in a circuit of
1 Stuart, vol. 3. p. 9- . ' * Pausan. b. I.e. 33. z Loc. cit.
VOL. I. 3 Y