DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.800#0163
THE LONG WALLS DEMOLISHED.
145
building, but the measures assigned to them prove the contrary. This
circumstance is a confirmation of a passage in Xenophon, where this
temple is said to have been burnt, about three years after this survey
was taken, though the names of the archon and ephorus are generally
believed to be interpolated." *
The original building was probably of the Ionic order, which was
preserved in the subsequent reconstructions, perhaps as a sacred charac-
teristic. For this order may be considered more proper to the Athe-
nians, as Ionians, than the Doric, though at a more advanced period they
adopted the latter in preference, and most of the extant specimens of
their architecture are of that order—as the Parthenon, the Propylaea,
and the so-called temple of Theseus.
The most splendid period of Athenian history was now drawing to
a close. The loss of the army in Sicily and the battle of iEgospotami
brought the Athenians under subjection to Sparta (b.c. 404). By the
treaty which they made, under the influence of famine, they consented
to the destruction of the Long Walls and the Peiraic fortification, and
to deliver up all their ships but twelve.2 The demolition of the walls
and the burning of the fleet were conducted—or rather, perhaps, in-
augurated—to the sound of flutes; the allies of the Lacedaemonians
looking on crowned with chaplets, regarding that day as the commence-
ment of Grecian freedom.3 Thus was established the tyranny of the
Thirty, overthrown by Thrasybulus in the following year. We have
before adverted to the military operations by which that revolution was
effected (supra, p. 134). It is evident, from the account of the actions
in the Peiraaeus, that a very considerable portion of the fortifications
must have been demolished by the Lacedaemonians.4 For we have seen
1 Antiquities of Athens, vol. ii. ch. ii.
p. 18. Mr. Wilkins also observed a dis-
crepancy between the actual measure-
ments and those of the inscription. See
Rose, Inscr. Gr. p. 178. On the other
hand, however, M. Eangabe affirms that
the particulars agree. Ant. Hellen. t.i.p.60.
2 Xenoph. Hell. ii. 2, 20.
3 Xenoph. ibid. s. 23; Plut.Lysand. 15.
4 Leake observes, vol. i. p. 391, note 2:
" That some demolition of the Peiraic walls
was executed is evident from Xenophon,
but he also shows that it was very speedily
and therefore not effectually done. Ol S«
TpiaKovra ijpi8i)crav p.iv, or«l Tn'x'Ta ra
paKpa T(i\rj Ka\ Ta nepl rbv Heipata
h
145
building, but the measures assigned to them prove the contrary. This
circumstance is a confirmation of a passage in Xenophon, where this
temple is said to have been burnt, about three years after this survey
was taken, though the names of the archon and ephorus are generally
believed to be interpolated." *
The original building was probably of the Ionic order, which was
preserved in the subsequent reconstructions, perhaps as a sacred charac-
teristic. For this order may be considered more proper to the Athe-
nians, as Ionians, than the Doric, though at a more advanced period they
adopted the latter in preference, and most of the extant specimens of
their architecture are of that order—as the Parthenon, the Propylaea,
and the so-called temple of Theseus.
The most splendid period of Athenian history was now drawing to
a close. The loss of the army in Sicily and the battle of iEgospotami
brought the Athenians under subjection to Sparta (b.c. 404). By the
treaty which they made, under the influence of famine, they consented
to the destruction of the Long Walls and the Peiraic fortification, and
to deliver up all their ships but twelve.2 The demolition of the walls
and the burning of the fleet were conducted—or rather, perhaps, in-
augurated—to the sound of flutes; the allies of the Lacedaemonians
looking on crowned with chaplets, regarding that day as the commence-
ment of Grecian freedom.3 Thus was established the tyranny of the
Thirty, overthrown by Thrasybulus in the following year. We have
before adverted to the military operations by which that revolution was
effected (supra, p. 134). It is evident, from the account of the actions
in the Peiraaeus, that a very considerable portion of the fortifications
must have been demolished by the Lacedaemonians.4 For we have seen
1 Antiquities of Athens, vol. ii. ch. ii.
p. 18. Mr. Wilkins also observed a dis-
crepancy between the actual measure-
ments and those of the inscription. See
Rose, Inscr. Gr. p. 178. On the other
hand, however, M. Eangabe affirms that
the particulars agree. Ant. Hellen. t.i.p.60.
2 Xenoph. Hell. ii. 2, 20.
3 Xenoph. ibid. s. 23; Plut.Lysand. 15.
4 Leake observes, vol. i. p. 391, note 2:
" That some demolition of the Peiraic walls
was executed is evident from Xenophon,
but he also shows that it was very speedily
and therefore not effectually done. Ol S«
TpiaKovra ijpi8i)crav p.iv, or«l Tn'x'Ta ra
paKpa T(i\rj Ka\ Ta nepl rbv Heipata
h