DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.796#0043
22 THE ACROPOLIS OF ATHENS
says that the walls of the Acropolis were built by Hyperbius
and Argolas, names of ancient Pelasgians who were easily
confounded with the giants. These Pelasgic walls are
sometimes referred to by ancient writers as the work of the
Tyrrhenians (30).
The figure (No. 4) in the text, taken from a red-figured
vase of the fifth century B.C., represents one of these giant
builders of the Pelasgic wall named Gigas carrying a huge
rock or rather pile of rocks, and Athena in front directing him
with her outstretched hand where to lay them.
Fig. 4.—Giant carrying rocks. Athena.
That the Pisistratids made the Acropolis more of a strong-
hold than ever before has already been said. To effect this
two things had to be done. The walls surrounding the crest
and said to have been built by the Pelasgians must be
strengthened and built higher, and the western approach and
ascent must be more strongly guarded. Undoubted remains
of this most ancient circumvallating wall have been found in
recent excavations and are clearly to be seen in the trenches
left open, especially on the east and south sides of the
Acropolis. These walls all have the same characteristics.
They are built of huge unhewn blocks of the limestone that
constitutes the Acropolis rock, placed in layers or tiers with
small stones filling in the chinks. The thickness varies from
four to six metres, the original height is uncertain; it is
preserved only to about four metres, but a bevelling of the
says that the walls of the Acropolis were built by Hyperbius
and Argolas, names of ancient Pelasgians who were easily
confounded with the giants. These Pelasgic walls are
sometimes referred to by ancient writers as the work of the
Tyrrhenians (30).
The figure (No. 4) in the text, taken from a red-figured
vase of the fifth century B.C., represents one of these giant
builders of the Pelasgic wall named Gigas carrying a huge
rock or rather pile of rocks, and Athena in front directing him
with her outstretched hand where to lay them.
Fig. 4.—Giant carrying rocks. Athena.
That the Pisistratids made the Acropolis more of a strong-
hold than ever before has already been said. To effect this
two things had to be done. The walls surrounding the crest
and said to have been built by the Pelasgians must be
strengthened and built higher, and the western approach and
ascent must be more strongly guarded. Undoubted remains
of this most ancient circumvallating wall have been found in
recent excavations and are clearly to be seen in the trenches
left open, especially on the east and south sides of the
Acropolis. These walls all have the same characteristics.
They are built of huge unhewn blocks of the limestone that
constitutes the Acropolis rock, placed in layers or tiers with
small stones filling in the chinks. The thickness varies from
four to six metres, the original height is uncertain; it is
preserved only to about four metres, but a bevelling of the