DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4099#0178
PLAIN OF MARATHON. l6l
Others of the common size were inscribed <I>IAinno2, and others
I7EPAIKKA2. They have been found at Corfu with the word
KAAI2TPATOT, which appears to be, like the KAEONIKOT, above-
mentioned, an epithet rather than a name.
It is evident, from the story of Philip of Macedon, and Aster of
Amphipolis, that it was sometimes customary to inscribe missile
weapons; and we know from Polyaenus,' that Kleonymos, the Lace-
daemonian king, at the siege of Troezen, ordered an inscription to
be made on the missile weapons that were thrown into that city.
When Athens was besieged by Sylla, the missile weapons, vfetrtroi, were
also inscribed, as we know from the testimony of Appian.2 Leaden
bullets are alluded to by Appian3 in the words fieXttri poXvQuivuig, and
by Statius4 in the word glandes:
-----------------------------------------stridcntia funda,
Saxa pluunt; volucres imitantur fulgura glandes.
The Hernici of Italy, according to Virgil,5 used the same weapon:
-----------------------------------Pars maxima glandes
Liventis plumbi spargit.
But, to return to the plain of Marathon, the two smaller tumuli
are surrounded by a marsh ; and several blocks of stone and sepul-
chral stela of marble are lying near them. The marsh is formed by
a small stream, which descends from the hills and enters the sea near
this place. This is probably the same marsh, in which, according
to Pausanias,6 a great many Persians perished. In an excavation,
which was made here some years ago, the marble busts of Socrates,
Lucius Verus, and Marcus Aurelius, were found, Avith another
of an unknown person, which, however, has been attributed7 to
Herodes Atticus. They are sculptured with great care, and highly
1 Stratag. b. 2. c. 19. ■ De Bell. Mithrid. 192, 193. 3 De Bell. Mithrid. 192.
* Theb. b. 8. v. 418. s ^neid,7. v. 686. * B. I. c. 32.
i See Catalog. d'Antiq, &,c. de F. M. Le Cte. De Choiseul Gouffier, par L. I. I. Dubois,
p. 21. Paris, 1818.
VOL. II.
Others of the common size were inscribed <I>IAinno2, and others
I7EPAIKKA2. They have been found at Corfu with the word
KAAI2TPATOT, which appears to be, like the KAEONIKOT, above-
mentioned, an epithet rather than a name.
It is evident, from the story of Philip of Macedon, and Aster of
Amphipolis, that it was sometimes customary to inscribe missile
weapons; and we know from Polyaenus,' that Kleonymos, the Lace-
daemonian king, at the siege of Troezen, ordered an inscription to
be made on the missile weapons that were thrown into that city.
When Athens was besieged by Sylla, the missile weapons, vfetrtroi, were
also inscribed, as we know from the testimony of Appian.2 Leaden
bullets are alluded to by Appian3 in the words fieXttri poXvQuivuig, and
by Statius4 in the word glandes:
-----------------------------------------stridcntia funda,
Saxa pluunt; volucres imitantur fulgura glandes.
The Hernici of Italy, according to Virgil,5 used the same weapon:
-----------------------------------Pars maxima glandes
Liventis plumbi spargit.
But, to return to the plain of Marathon, the two smaller tumuli
are surrounded by a marsh ; and several blocks of stone and sepul-
chral stela of marble are lying near them. The marsh is formed by
a small stream, which descends from the hills and enters the sea near
this place. This is probably the same marsh, in which, according
to Pausanias,6 a great many Persians perished. In an excavation,
which was made here some years ago, the marble busts of Socrates,
Lucius Verus, and Marcus Aurelius, were found, Avith another
of an unknown person, which, however, has been attributed7 to
Herodes Atticus. They are sculptured with great care, and highly
1 Stratag. b. 2. c. 19. ■ De Bell. Mithrid. 192, 193. 3 De Bell. Mithrid. 192.
* Theb. b. 8. v. 418. s ^neid,7. v. 686. * B. I. c. 32.
i See Catalog. d'Antiq, &,c. de F. M. Le Cte. De Choiseul Gouffier, par L. I. I. Dubois,
p. 21. Paris, 1818.
VOL. II.