DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4098#0586
534 RUINS OF THORIKOS.
which some have supposed1 to be the ancient Amphitrope. The
whole country was covered with bushes and small pines.
In an hour and twenty minutes from Keratea we came in sight of
Thorikos, situated in a large undulating plain, with its port, and
the islands of Helena, Ceos,2 Cythnos,3 and Seriphos, in the distant
view. The other islands were concealed by the intervention of
Mount Laurion. In some places the road was elevated like a bank,
and had the appearance of being artificial; great part of it being
composed of scoria from the silver mines of Laurion.
We arrived at Thorikos at the close of the day ; and passed the
night in a church, which is situated amongst the ruins, about a mile
from the sea. This place, which was in the tribe Akamantis,4 re-
tains its ancient name; the port is called Porto Mandri. It was
one of the twelve Attic cities in the time of Cecrops,5 and the birth-
place of the lover of Procris. It was probably a place of strength
at an early period; and we know that about the 24th year of the
Peloponnesian war, Xenophon6 recommended that it should be
fortified, and become one of the safeguards of the neighbouring
silver mines. In another place7 he says, the Athenians did fortify
it in the 93d Olympiad. It is not noticed by Pausanias : indeed it
was ruined before the time of Mela, who says—" Thorikos, et
Brauronia, olim urbes; jam tan turn nomina \" 8
The present remains are interesting and extensive. The city,
which was of an irregular form, was surrounded by a wall with
square projecting towers ;9 and apparently about two miles and a
half in circuit. The Acropolis was on a pointed hill above the city.
The ruins are all of white marble of an inferior kind, veined with
grey. It was cut on the spot, as the rocks are of the same materials :
1 Stuart, vol. 3. p. 11. 2 k£0£. 3 KvOvoc
* Hesych. Lexic. vol. l. p. 1724. Suidas Lexic. vol. 2. p. 199. Meurs. Pop. Attic.
p. 38. Reliq. Attic, c. 5.
5 Strabo, b. 9. p. 397. 6IV ^po<rolm>, c. 4. 7 Hist. b. 1. c. 2.
8 De Situ Obis, b. 2. c. 3. 9 The towers are about twenty-one feet in breadth.
which some have supposed1 to be the ancient Amphitrope. The
whole country was covered with bushes and small pines.
In an hour and twenty minutes from Keratea we came in sight of
Thorikos, situated in a large undulating plain, with its port, and
the islands of Helena, Ceos,2 Cythnos,3 and Seriphos, in the distant
view. The other islands were concealed by the intervention of
Mount Laurion. In some places the road was elevated like a bank,
and had the appearance of being artificial; great part of it being
composed of scoria from the silver mines of Laurion.
We arrived at Thorikos at the close of the day ; and passed the
night in a church, which is situated amongst the ruins, about a mile
from the sea. This place, which was in the tribe Akamantis,4 re-
tains its ancient name; the port is called Porto Mandri. It was
one of the twelve Attic cities in the time of Cecrops,5 and the birth-
place of the lover of Procris. It was probably a place of strength
at an early period; and we know that about the 24th year of the
Peloponnesian war, Xenophon6 recommended that it should be
fortified, and become one of the safeguards of the neighbouring
silver mines. In another place7 he says, the Athenians did fortify
it in the 93d Olympiad. It is not noticed by Pausanias : indeed it
was ruined before the time of Mela, who says—" Thorikos, et
Brauronia, olim urbes; jam tan turn nomina \" 8
The present remains are interesting and extensive. The city,
which was of an irregular form, was surrounded by a wall with
square projecting towers ;9 and apparently about two miles and a
half in circuit. The Acropolis was on a pointed hill above the city.
The ruins are all of white marble of an inferior kind, veined with
grey. It was cut on the spot, as the rocks are of the same materials :
1 Stuart, vol. 3. p. 11. 2 k£0£. 3 KvOvoc
* Hesych. Lexic. vol. l. p. 1724. Suidas Lexic. vol. 2. p. 199. Meurs. Pop. Attic.
p. 38. Reliq. Attic, c. 5.
5 Strabo, b. 9. p. 397. 6IV ^po<rolm>, c. 4. 7 Hist. b. 1. c. 2.
8 De Situ Obis, b. 2. c. 3. 9 The towers are about twenty-one feet in breadth.