DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4099#0101
94 HYPERIAN FOUNTAIN.
of the ancient acropolis. A small lake, apparently about a hun-
dred yards in diameter, and with water of the most crystalline purity,
bubbles up out of the ground. It is surrounded by many beautiful
trees, principally platani, poplars, cypresses, olives, and a i'ew small
palms, the continuity of whose shade is broken by intervening build-
ings of a most elegant form; while the surrounding verdure is vividly
contrasted with the tall white minarets of several mosques. The
lake is not deep; and a line of large blocks runs through the middle
of it to serve as stepping-stones; but as they are rather far apart, and
are covered with a perpetual moisture, my foot slipped when I was
attempting to cross over, and I fell into the water, to the great
amusement of the surrounding Turks, who, relaxing the usual fixed
solemnity of their muscles, laughed most heartily at my accident.
The Hyperian fountain was celebrated in the earliest times; Ho-
mer represents Hector condoling with Andromache on the impend-
ing castastrophe of the Trojan contest, and expressing his dread of
her being carried prisoner to Greece, exclaims in the tender soli-
citude of prophetic apprehension :—
This fountain was represented on the money of Pherai, and I have
seen a scarce silver coin1 of this town, on one side of which is a
lion's head spouting Avater from its mouth. Strabo3 says that the
Hyperian fountain was in the middle of the town of Pherai. It is
mentioned by Pindar;4 and according to Sophocles,5 was pleasing
even to the gods: " Q yq %.cu Qsoctia xa'Sr <rv77ovov & vdug Tvtomx.
xor,vj] vau^oc dtotpihetrruTov.'
' Iliad, 6. v. 457.—" And you shall unwillingly draw water from the Messeid, or Hype-
rian fount."
' In the collection of Colonel Leake ; also published by Eckhel, Nuini Veteres Anecdoti
pars 1. tab. 6.
3 B. 9. p. 439. « Pyth. 4. v. 222.
See the Scholiast of Pindar on Pyth. 4. v. 222.
of the ancient acropolis. A small lake, apparently about a hun-
dred yards in diameter, and with water of the most crystalline purity,
bubbles up out of the ground. It is surrounded by many beautiful
trees, principally platani, poplars, cypresses, olives, and a i'ew small
palms, the continuity of whose shade is broken by intervening build-
ings of a most elegant form; while the surrounding verdure is vividly
contrasted with the tall white minarets of several mosques. The
lake is not deep; and a line of large blocks runs through the middle
of it to serve as stepping-stones; but as they are rather far apart, and
are covered with a perpetual moisture, my foot slipped when I was
attempting to cross over, and I fell into the water, to the great
amusement of the surrounding Turks, who, relaxing the usual fixed
solemnity of their muscles, laughed most heartily at my accident.
The Hyperian fountain was celebrated in the earliest times; Ho-
mer represents Hector condoling with Andromache on the impend-
ing castastrophe of the Trojan contest, and expressing his dread of
her being carried prisoner to Greece, exclaims in the tender soli-
citude of prophetic apprehension :—
This fountain was represented on the money of Pherai, and I have
seen a scarce silver coin1 of this town, on one side of which is a
lion's head spouting Avater from its mouth. Strabo3 says that the
Hyperian fountain was in the middle of the town of Pherai. It is
mentioned by Pindar;4 and according to Sophocles,5 was pleasing
even to the gods: " Q yq %.cu Qsoctia xa'Sr <rv77ovov & vdug Tvtomx.
xor,vj] vau^oc dtotpihetrruTov.'
' Iliad, 6. v. 457.—" And you shall unwillingly draw water from the Messeid, or Hype-
rian fount."
' In the collection of Colonel Leake ; also published by Eckhel, Nuini Veteres Anecdoti
pars 1. tab. 6.
3 B. 9. p. 439. « Pyth. 4. v. 222.
See the Scholiast of Pindar on Pyth. 4. v. 222.