DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4099#0077
70 THE PASS OF THERMOPYLAE AND THERMAL SPRINGS.
was in the vicinity. This demigod presided over warm baths, but
not over cold ones:
Abulia,;'
The springs are very copious, and immediately form several rapid
streams running into the sea, which is apparently about one mile
from the pass.
Philostratus2 informs us that baths were built here for the infirm
by Herodes Atticus.
Near the springs are the faint traces of a Avail and a circular
tower, composed of a thick mass of small stones, and not ap-
parently of high antiquity. The foot of the mountain is however
covered with trees and impenetrable bushes, that probably hide
from our view the earlier fortifications, which were usually com-
posed of those large and ponderous masses that, seem to defy the
ravages of time. Herodotus1 says, that the wall which the Phoceans
had built as a protection against the inroads of the Thessalians, was
near the spring, and that it was formerly occupied by gates. These
were probably rebuilt and fortified at different periods, particularly
when any northern invasion was apprehended; additional works
were made by Antiochus the Great. The iEtolians rendered the
pass more impregnable by the addition of ditches and ramparts,
when they dreaded the approach of Philip, the last of Macedon/
According to Procopius,3 they were repaired by Justinian, who also
made cisterns for the reception of rain water.
Several other great events, besides the Persian invasion, add
considerable historical interest to this spot. The Greeks, when
contending against Brennus,6 and his Gauls, and the Romans7
against Antiochus, fought on the same ground which had been
dyed with Spartan blood.
1 Where did you ever see any cold Herakleian baths?—Aristopfa. Nubes, y. 104-7.
* B. 2. c. 5. 3 B. 7. c. 176. * Polyb. b. io. p.
De iEdific b. 4. c. 12. p. 69. Paris edit. " Pausan. b. 10. c. 20. &c.
7 Livy, b. 36. c. 16. Appian. de bellis Syr. p. 97.
was in the vicinity. This demigod presided over warm baths, but
not over cold ones:
Abulia,;'
The springs are very copious, and immediately form several rapid
streams running into the sea, which is apparently about one mile
from the pass.
Philostratus2 informs us that baths were built here for the infirm
by Herodes Atticus.
Near the springs are the faint traces of a Avail and a circular
tower, composed of a thick mass of small stones, and not ap-
parently of high antiquity. The foot of the mountain is however
covered with trees and impenetrable bushes, that probably hide
from our view the earlier fortifications, which were usually com-
posed of those large and ponderous masses that, seem to defy the
ravages of time. Herodotus1 says, that the wall which the Phoceans
had built as a protection against the inroads of the Thessalians, was
near the spring, and that it was formerly occupied by gates. These
were probably rebuilt and fortified at different periods, particularly
when any northern invasion was apprehended; additional works
were made by Antiochus the Great. The iEtolians rendered the
pass more impregnable by the addition of ditches and ramparts,
when they dreaded the approach of Philip, the last of Macedon/
According to Procopius,3 they were repaired by Justinian, who also
made cisterns for the reception of rain water.
Several other great events, besides the Persian invasion, add
considerable historical interest to this spot. The Greeks, when
contending against Brennus,6 and his Gauls, and the Romans7
against Antiochus, fought on the same ground which had been
dyed with Spartan blood.
1 Where did you ever see any cold Herakleian baths?—Aristopfa. Nubes, y. 104-7.
* B. 2. c. 5. 3 B. 7. c. 176. * Polyb. b. io. p.
De iEdific b. 4. c. 12. p. 69. Paris edit. " Pausan. b. 10. c. 20. &c.
7 Livy, b. 36. c. 16. Appian. de bellis Syr. p. 97.