DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4099#0172
156 RUINS OF OROPOS.
and ruins of Oropos, and the gulf and mountains of Euboea. The
sea has the appearance of greater breadth than Thucydides' allows
it in this part, for he asserts that Eretria, in Euboea, is not sixty
stadia from Oropos. Strabo ~ says that there are only forty stadia
between these places, which must be an erroneous computation.
Eretria and its plain were clearly distinguished : GEchalia and Araa-
rynthos3 were in its vicinity. Oropos is now called Ropo, and con-
tains only few and imperfect ruins. Some architectural fragments
in marble are dispersed about, and the traces of the acropolis wall
may be discovered on a neighbouring hill.
Oropos appears about a mile from the sea, where it had two small
contiguous ports. Near the village is the dry bed of a torrent; but
its refreshing: streams4 and cool fountains have shared the fate of
Ampbiaraus, and are for ever sunk within the bowels of the earth!
We observed no certain traces of the neighbouring Graia, which
was on the road to Athens, nor of the temple of Amphiaraus,* nor
of the monument of Narcissos.6 But we did not indeed employ
sufficient time in exploring the curiosities of this place, owing to the
excessive heat, and the feverish debility which was produced by an ex-
posure during so many days to the unmitigated violence of the sun.
The doubtful situation of Oropos, whether in the Athenian or Boeotian
territory, was the cause of frequent contest between those by whom
it was alternately subjected.7
The ruins of Tanagra still remain, under the name of Gremata,
about six miles to the west-north-west of Oropos. The walls, towers,
and a theatre are seen, beside some fragments of Ionic columns.8
Delphinion and the sacred port9 were twenty stadia from Oropos.
1 B. 8. c. 13. 2 B. 9. p. 403. 3 Strabo, b. 10. p. 44S.
* Livy, speaking of Oropos, says, " Templumque vetustum est, fontibus rivisque circa
amaenum, b. 45. c. 27.
5 This celebrated temple and oracle was only twelve stadia from Oropos. Pausan. b. 1.
c 34.
0 fj.Yyffj.x. Strabo. T Strabo. b. 1. p. 65. b. 9. p. 399. Pausan. b. I.e. 34.
8 I am indebted for this information to C. R. Cockerel!, Esq. who visited the ruins.
9 Strabo, b. 9. p. 403.
and ruins of Oropos, and the gulf and mountains of Euboea. The
sea has the appearance of greater breadth than Thucydides' allows
it in this part, for he asserts that Eretria, in Euboea, is not sixty
stadia from Oropos. Strabo ~ says that there are only forty stadia
between these places, which must be an erroneous computation.
Eretria and its plain were clearly distinguished : GEchalia and Araa-
rynthos3 were in its vicinity. Oropos is now called Ropo, and con-
tains only few and imperfect ruins. Some architectural fragments
in marble are dispersed about, and the traces of the acropolis wall
may be discovered on a neighbouring hill.
Oropos appears about a mile from the sea, where it had two small
contiguous ports. Near the village is the dry bed of a torrent; but
its refreshing: streams4 and cool fountains have shared the fate of
Ampbiaraus, and are for ever sunk within the bowels of the earth!
We observed no certain traces of the neighbouring Graia, which
was on the road to Athens, nor of the temple of Amphiaraus,* nor
of the monument of Narcissos.6 But we did not indeed employ
sufficient time in exploring the curiosities of this place, owing to the
excessive heat, and the feverish debility which was produced by an ex-
posure during so many days to the unmitigated violence of the sun.
The doubtful situation of Oropos, whether in the Athenian or Boeotian
territory, was the cause of frequent contest between those by whom
it was alternately subjected.7
The ruins of Tanagra still remain, under the name of Gremata,
about six miles to the west-north-west of Oropos. The walls, towers,
and a theatre are seen, beside some fragments of Ionic columns.8
Delphinion and the sacred port9 were twenty stadia from Oropos.
1 B. 8. c. 13. 2 B. 9. p. 403. 3 Strabo, b. 10. p. 44S.
* Livy, speaking of Oropos, says, " Templumque vetustum est, fontibus rivisque circa
amaenum, b. 45. c. 27.
5 This celebrated temple and oracle was only twelve stadia from Oropos. Pausan. b. 1.
c 34.
0 fj.Yyffj.x. Strabo. T Strabo. b. 1. p. 65. b. 9. p. 399. Pausan. b. I.e. 34.
8 I am indebted for this information to C. R. Cockerel!, Esq. who visited the ruins.
9 Strabo, b. 9. p. 403.