DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4099#0196
178 MEGARA.
remains are so totally obliterated. This may well excite the more
surprise; as, in their mode of construction, the Megarians were
proverbial for solidity and permanence. Tertullian,1 citing the
authority of Diogenes, says that " they ate as if they were to die
the next day, and built as if they were to live for ever." The sur-
prising disappearance of these edifices may, however, be attributed
to two causes. First, to the nature of the stone, which is a soft and
porous compound of petrified shellss and marine substances, that are
easily decomposed, and crumbled into dust. The second cause of
the destruction of its edifices may be supposed to have originated in
its locality, on the great road leading to and from the Peninsula, as
well as its intermediate situation between two powerful enemies, or
dictatorial friends, the Athenians and Corinthians, with whom the
Megarians had frequent contests concerning the boundaries of their
respective territories. Megara was taken and destroyed by Deme-
trius, and by the Romans under Quintus Metellus; and must have
suffered greatly under Alaric, by whom it was pillaged. The few
remains which had withstood the ravages of time, and escaped the
fury of the enemy, were destroyed by the overbearing tyranny of
the most serene Venetian republic in 1687. Venice has, however,
experienced the day of retribution, and suffered in her turn, for all
the incalculable damage which her malignant domination inflicted
upon the Greeks, and upon the ancient monuments of that country.
The ancient Megarians excelled in nothing but naval affairs.
Theocritus' calls them agta-rsvoflsg tgflpotg. They sent twenty vessels4
to the battle of Salamis, and 5000 soldiers against the Persians at
Platsea;5 and their colonies were numerous and powerful. They
were nevertheless reckoned the worst people in Greece, and were
generally detested, as fraudulent and perfidious. Their military acts
were few, and not brilliant. They were banded6 about hy the
' Apollog. c. 39.
* Which Pausanias calls CoBchites (Koy%*7ij;). It is composed chiefly of cockle-shells,
resembling the stone of the temple of Jupiter at Olympia, except that it is more compact.
' Idyl. 12. v. 27. * Herodot. b. 8. c. 45. 5 Id. b. 9. c. 28. " See Thiicyd. b. 1. b. 2. b. 4.
remains are so totally obliterated. This may well excite the more
surprise; as, in their mode of construction, the Megarians were
proverbial for solidity and permanence. Tertullian,1 citing the
authority of Diogenes, says that " they ate as if they were to die
the next day, and built as if they were to live for ever." The sur-
prising disappearance of these edifices may, however, be attributed
to two causes. First, to the nature of the stone, which is a soft and
porous compound of petrified shellss and marine substances, that are
easily decomposed, and crumbled into dust. The second cause of
the destruction of its edifices may be supposed to have originated in
its locality, on the great road leading to and from the Peninsula, as
well as its intermediate situation between two powerful enemies, or
dictatorial friends, the Athenians and Corinthians, with whom the
Megarians had frequent contests concerning the boundaries of their
respective territories. Megara was taken and destroyed by Deme-
trius, and by the Romans under Quintus Metellus; and must have
suffered greatly under Alaric, by whom it was pillaged. The few
remains which had withstood the ravages of time, and escaped the
fury of the enemy, were destroyed by the overbearing tyranny of
the most serene Venetian republic in 1687. Venice has, however,
experienced the day of retribution, and suffered in her turn, for all
the incalculable damage which her malignant domination inflicted
upon the Greeks, and upon the ancient monuments of that country.
The ancient Megarians excelled in nothing but naval affairs.
Theocritus' calls them agta-rsvoflsg tgflpotg. They sent twenty vessels4
to the battle of Salamis, and 5000 soldiers against the Persians at
Platsea;5 and their colonies were numerous and powerful. They
were nevertheless reckoned the worst people in Greece, and were
generally detested, as fraudulent and perfidious. Their military acts
were few, and not brilliant. They were banded6 about hy the
' Apollog. c. 39.
* Which Pausanias calls CoBchites (Koy%*7ij;). It is composed chiefly of cockle-shells,
resembling the stone of the temple of Jupiter at Olympia, except that it is more compact.
' Idyl. 12. v. 27. * Herodot. b. 8. c. 45. 5 Id. b. 9. c. 28. " See Thiicyd. b. 1. b. 2. b. 4.