DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.796#0046
THE EARLIEST HISTORIC PERIOD 23
wall of the east corner of the south wing of the Propylaea
leads to the inference that the wall at this point may have
reached to a height of ten metres (31). A good specimen of
this wall is to be seen at the southeast corner of the Acropolis,
which makes a sharp angle at this point, built of the hard lime-
stone of the native rock and in huge blocks from three to four
and a half feet in length. From what is left of this wall one
would judge that at this point some bulwark for defense had
been erected. Usually the remains of this oldest wall are found
lying inside of the younger and better built wall dating from the
time of Cimon and Pericles. On the north side the later wall
follows the line of the old wall quite closely, and wherever the
line of Cimon's wall or of the later wall coincides with that of
the ancient one or lies within it the old wall was torn down
and became obliterated. In passing it may be observed that
contemporary with this Pelasgic fortification wall are probably
the roughly built foundations of dwellings (see 64 Plan) found
a few years ago east of the Erechtheum and resting on the rock
at a depth of 45 feet below the surface. To the Pelasgic
period also belong the crude walls to be seen close to the
northeastern boundary wall of the Acropolis, directly east
of the Erechtheum, which are probably the remains of an
ancient gateway (61 Plan) to the primitive royal palace,
approach to which was gained by a flight of rock-cut steps
leading up from the base of the Acropolis (60 Plan). Other
remains of this oldest wall are to be seen at various other
points. (See Plan II.)
The most conspicuous remnant of this Pelasgian wall,
however, is that which bounds the precinct of the Artemis
Brauronia terrace at the southeast corner of the southern wing
of the Propylaea. Its length is nearly seventeen metres (about
SS ft.) and it has a thickness of nearly six metres (20 ft.).
It rises to a height of about three metres (1 o ft.) above the level
of the plateau on which the Nike temple stands.
The original height of this wall and its relation to the old
fortification is a matter of doubt, and opens up one of the
many questions concerning the history of the Acropolis on
which there is a wide divergence of opinion. This question
is a twofold one: First, the extent of the stronghold about
the western approach to the Acropolis and generally known
wall of the east corner of the south wing of the Propylaea
leads to the inference that the wall at this point may have
reached to a height of ten metres (31). A good specimen of
this wall is to be seen at the southeast corner of the Acropolis,
which makes a sharp angle at this point, built of the hard lime-
stone of the native rock and in huge blocks from three to four
and a half feet in length. From what is left of this wall one
would judge that at this point some bulwark for defense had
been erected. Usually the remains of this oldest wall are found
lying inside of the younger and better built wall dating from the
time of Cimon and Pericles. On the north side the later wall
follows the line of the old wall quite closely, and wherever the
line of Cimon's wall or of the later wall coincides with that of
the ancient one or lies within it the old wall was torn down
and became obliterated. In passing it may be observed that
contemporary with this Pelasgic fortification wall are probably
the roughly built foundations of dwellings (see 64 Plan) found
a few years ago east of the Erechtheum and resting on the rock
at a depth of 45 feet below the surface. To the Pelasgic
period also belong the crude walls to be seen close to the
northeastern boundary wall of the Acropolis, directly east
of the Erechtheum, which are probably the remains of an
ancient gateway (61 Plan) to the primitive royal palace,
approach to which was gained by a flight of rock-cut steps
leading up from the base of the Acropolis (60 Plan). Other
remains of this oldest wall are to be seen at various other
points. (See Plan II.)
The most conspicuous remnant of this Pelasgian wall,
however, is that which bounds the precinct of the Artemis
Brauronia terrace at the southeast corner of the southern wing
of the Propylaea. Its length is nearly seventeen metres (about
SS ft.) and it has a thickness of nearly six metres (20 ft.).
It rises to a height of about three metres (1 o ft.) above the level
of the plateau on which the Nike temple stands.
The original height of this wall and its relation to the old
fortification is a matter of doubt, and opens up one of the
many questions concerning the history of the Acropolis on
which there is a wide divergence of opinion. This question
is a twofold one: First, the extent of the stronghold about
the western approach to the Acropolis and generally known