DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4099#0309
GRAND VIEW OF THE SARONIC GULF. 279
us to a well with fragments belonging to an ancient fountain
situated at the foot of an adjoining hill. When arriving at some
deserted cottages on an eminence opposite Damala, all traces of the
road disappeared, and we lost our way. "We proceeded with the
greatest difficulty over a rough ridge of low hills, and on reaching
the summit, overlooked the promontory of Methana and the other
interesting objects in the Saronic gulf, forming a most extensive
and beautiful prospect, including the whole coast of Epidauria with
its lofty mountains, among which the form of the craggy Ortholithi
is pre-eminently sublime! The broken shore is seen curving in a
varied outline towards the Corinthian isthmus, and Parnassos is
descried glittering with snow of the most immaculate white over
the steep and hazy precipices of the Geranian summits.
The middle of the view is filled with the immense mass of the
black volcanic mountains of Methana, shooting up into pointed
cones, and precipices. Towards its base are observed the modern
village, its ancient city, and its narrow isthmus, with its outstretch-
ing promontories and indented bays, washed by the gentle waves
of a dark blue sea. The view of Salamis, and of the Athenian
ports and capital, is obstructed by this interposing mass. Over its
southern extremity is seen the pointed summit of iEgina, with the
fiat surface of Hymettos, and the rest of the Attic coast stretching
in a line of varied beauty as far as the island of Patroclus, and the
promontory of Sunium. Beyond these are discerned the long
island of Helena, the rocky Ceos, and the more distant Cythnos,
while the view of the remoter islands is intercepted by the me-
morable summits of Kalauria, projecting with a narrow and pointed
base far into the Saronic gulf.1 At the foot of the hill we observed
the village of Dara, to which we directed our steps, and on arriving
there were happy to find ourselves in the right road for Methana.
1 Bearings from the hill above Dara. Highest point of iEgina N. 36. E. Summit of
Hymettos N. 48. E. Temple of Neptune in Kalauria, S. 71. E. Extremity of the island
of Ceos, S. 81. E.
us to a well with fragments belonging to an ancient fountain
situated at the foot of an adjoining hill. When arriving at some
deserted cottages on an eminence opposite Damala, all traces of the
road disappeared, and we lost our way. "We proceeded with the
greatest difficulty over a rough ridge of low hills, and on reaching
the summit, overlooked the promontory of Methana and the other
interesting objects in the Saronic gulf, forming a most extensive
and beautiful prospect, including the whole coast of Epidauria with
its lofty mountains, among which the form of the craggy Ortholithi
is pre-eminently sublime! The broken shore is seen curving in a
varied outline towards the Corinthian isthmus, and Parnassos is
descried glittering with snow of the most immaculate white over
the steep and hazy precipices of the Geranian summits.
The middle of the view is filled with the immense mass of the
black volcanic mountains of Methana, shooting up into pointed
cones, and precipices. Towards its base are observed the modern
village, its ancient city, and its narrow isthmus, with its outstretch-
ing promontories and indented bays, washed by the gentle waves
of a dark blue sea. The view of Salamis, and of the Athenian
ports and capital, is obstructed by this interposing mass. Over its
southern extremity is seen the pointed summit of iEgina, with the
fiat surface of Hymettos, and the rest of the Attic coast stretching
in a line of varied beauty as far as the island of Patroclus, and the
promontory of Sunium. Beyond these are discerned the long
island of Helena, the rocky Ceos, and the more distant Cythnos,
while the view of the remoter islands is intercepted by the me-
morable summits of Kalauria, projecting with a narrow and pointed
base far into the Saronic gulf.1 At the foot of the hill we observed
the village of Dara, to which we directed our steps, and on arriving
there were happy to find ourselves in the right road for Methana.
1 Bearings from the hill above Dara. Highest point of iEgina N. 36. E. Summit of
Hymettos N. 48. E. Temple of Neptune in Kalauria, S. 71. E. Extremity of the island
of Ceos, S. 81. E.