DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.793#0057
TEMPLE OF JUPITER OLYMPIOS AND
RIVER ILISSOS.
THIS view is taken from the southern bank of the Ilissos, in the vicinity of Fount
Enncakrounos, or Kallirhoe, the site of which, however, is concealed by the water, and
does not appear in the present view.
The river Ilissos, which forms so conspicuous a part of the present picture, is per-
fectly streamless during the greater part of the year; and it is only after violent and
continued rains that it rushes down from Ilymettos with impetuous rage. At this period
it is impassable; but this seldom occurs more than once a year, and the event is so rare
and extraordinary that the Athenians then resort to the river in crowds to enjoy the
sight. The present view was made in order to preserve the memory of this unusual
occurrence. Early in the morning of the Kith of September, 1S05, a heavy storm, which
burst upon Ilymettos, converted in a few hours this streamless channel into a foaming
torrent. The storm continued for twenty-six hours. On the 18th the stream was
considerably diminished, and on the 20th it had ceased to flow.
The magnificent Corinthian temple, on the northern side of the Ilissos, was
begun by Pisistratos, and finished by Hadrian, who dedicated it to the divinity of
Jupiter Olympios. It was seven hundred years from its foundation before it was brought
to perfection, and was one of the most magnificent temples in the world. Even in its
present state of shattered dilapidation and mouldering decay it is one of the finest ruins
in Greece, although only sixteen of its columns are standing out of one hundred and
twenty-four, which it originally displayed. This venerable edifice is of Pcntelic marble,
and the columns, including the capitals, are apparently about fifty-five feet in height,
although they have never been accurately measured, as no ladder is found in Athens
of sufficient height to reach to their capitate.
The upper part of the arch of Hadrian is seen between the columns, but the loner
part is concealed by the rising of the ground.
The acropolis exhibits at the same time its eastern extremity, and its southern side,
surmounted by the magnificent columns of the Parthenon. No object in the picture
can com]>arc with this in beauty and in interest. Lower down the eye glances upon the
choragic monument of Thrasyllos, the tripodial columns the site of the theatre of
Bacchus, and the more perfect remains of the theatre of Hcrodcs Atticus. On the left
end of the view is the hill of Musams, crowned with the monument of Philopapjxis.
Mount Anchesmos also constitutes a striking feature in the view, but it embraces
only a small part of Panics and Pentelikon. These, with several more distant objects,
have been sacrificed by taking the view from a low point, in order to give more striking
pre-eminence to the foreground, and the cascades of the Ilissos.
RIVER ILISSOS.
THIS view is taken from the southern bank of the Ilissos, in the vicinity of Fount
Enncakrounos, or Kallirhoe, the site of which, however, is concealed by the water, and
does not appear in the present view.
The river Ilissos, which forms so conspicuous a part of the present picture, is per-
fectly streamless during the greater part of the year; and it is only after violent and
continued rains that it rushes down from Ilymettos with impetuous rage. At this period
it is impassable; but this seldom occurs more than once a year, and the event is so rare
and extraordinary that the Athenians then resort to the river in crowds to enjoy the
sight. The present view was made in order to preserve the memory of this unusual
occurrence. Early in the morning of the Kith of September, 1S05, a heavy storm, which
burst upon Ilymettos, converted in a few hours this streamless channel into a foaming
torrent. The storm continued for twenty-six hours. On the 18th the stream was
considerably diminished, and on the 20th it had ceased to flow.
The magnificent Corinthian temple, on the northern side of the Ilissos, was
begun by Pisistratos, and finished by Hadrian, who dedicated it to the divinity of
Jupiter Olympios. It was seven hundred years from its foundation before it was brought
to perfection, and was one of the most magnificent temples in the world. Even in its
present state of shattered dilapidation and mouldering decay it is one of the finest ruins
in Greece, although only sixteen of its columns are standing out of one hundred and
twenty-four, which it originally displayed. This venerable edifice is of Pcntelic marble,
and the columns, including the capitals, are apparently about fifty-five feet in height,
although they have never been accurately measured, as no ladder is found in Athens
of sufficient height to reach to their capitate.
The upper part of the arch of Hadrian is seen between the columns, but the loner
part is concealed by the rising of the ground.
The acropolis exhibits at the same time its eastern extremity, and its southern side,
surmounted by the magnificent columns of the Parthenon. No object in the picture
can com]>arc with this in beauty and in interest. Lower down the eye glances upon the
choragic monument of Thrasyllos, the tripodial columns the site of the theatre of
Bacchus, and the more perfect remains of the theatre of Hcrodcs Atticus. On the left
end of the view is the hill of Musams, crowned with the monument of Philopapjxis.
Mount Anchesmos also constitutes a striking feature in the view, but it embraces
only a small part of Panics and Pentelikon. These, with several more distant objects,
have been sacrificed by taking the view from a low point, in order to give more striking
pre-eminence to the foreground, and the cascades of the Ilissos.