DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4099#0173
PLAIN OF MARATHON. 157
We resumed our route, and passed by a church, and through a small
forest of firs. In an hour and forty minutes we saw a monastery to
the right. The soil of the plain was parched, and of a light colour :
Dicaearchus' observes that it is white and argillaceous. We passed
through a large village named Marcopoli, enriched with fine trees, vine-
yards, and olive groves. Here are some imperfect vestiges of antiquity,
and a little beyond the village is a copious fountain, which forms a
stream ; in the vicinity of a church, where there is a bas-relief of two
draped figures, in good style, but indifferent preservation, as the heads
have been broken. This place is one hour and three quarters from Oro-
pos, and cannot be the situation of the temple of Amphiaraus, which
was only twelve stadia from that town. We proceeded, and in an
hour crossed six rivulets. From an eminence, we had a view of Pen-
telikon, Hymettos, and Parnes. In two hours and fifty minutes
from Marcopoli, we arrived at the village of Kapandiiti, that was
enriched with mulberry trees, and surrounded with fine corn fields.
In two hours and forty minutes from Kapandiiti, we reached the
village of Marathona, having, in our way, crossed over nine streams,
and passed by several small churches and scattered traces of an-
tiquity, the original destination of which cannot be ascertained.
This village, which is about three miles from the sea, and at a
shorter distance from the foot of Pentelikon, is one of the prettiest
spots in Attica, and is enriched with many kinds of fruit trees; par-
ticularly walnuts, figs, pomegranates, pears, and cherries. On our
arrival, the fine country girls, with attractive looks and smiling
faces, brought us baskets of fruit. Some of them appeared un-
willing to accept our money in return ; and the spontaneous civility
and good humour of the inhabitants soon convinced us that we were
in Attica, where they are more courteous to strangers than in other
parts of Greece.
The Marathonian plain has been so often described, by ancient
1 Stat. Grace.
We resumed our route, and passed by a church, and through a small
forest of firs. In an hour and forty minutes we saw a monastery to
the right. The soil of the plain was parched, and of a light colour :
Dicaearchus' observes that it is white and argillaceous. We passed
through a large village named Marcopoli, enriched with fine trees, vine-
yards, and olive groves. Here are some imperfect vestiges of antiquity,
and a little beyond the village is a copious fountain, which forms a
stream ; in the vicinity of a church, where there is a bas-relief of two
draped figures, in good style, but indifferent preservation, as the heads
have been broken. This place is one hour and three quarters from Oro-
pos, and cannot be the situation of the temple of Amphiaraus, which
was only twelve stadia from that town. We proceeded, and in an
hour crossed six rivulets. From an eminence, we had a view of Pen-
telikon, Hymettos, and Parnes. In two hours and fifty minutes
from Marcopoli, we arrived at the village of Kapandiiti, that was
enriched with mulberry trees, and surrounded with fine corn fields.
In two hours and forty minutes from Kapandiiti, we reached the
village of Marathona, having, in our way, crossed over nine streams,
and passed by several small churches and scattered traces of an-
tiquity, the original destination of which cannot be ascertained.
This village, which is about three miles from the sea, and at a
shorter distance from the foot of Pentelikon, is one of the prettiest
spots in Attica, and is enriched with many kinds of fruit trees; par-
ticularly walnuts, figs, pomegranates, pears, and cherries. On our
arrival, the fine country girls, with attractive looks and smiling
faces, brought us baskets of fruit. Some of them appeared un-
willing to accept our money in return ; and the spontaneous civility
and good humour of the inhabitants soon convinced us that we were
in Attica, where they are more courteous to strangers than in other
parts of Greece.
The Marathonian plain has been so often described, by ancient
1 Stat. Grace.