DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.800#0444
ALTARS IN THE E11ECHTIIE1UM. 421
northern prostasis, as Leake asserts (p. 581, cf. p. 577). In the second
passage, immediately after speaking of the hyperthyrum, or cornice over
the lintel, at the eastern entrance (ra> 777309 ea>), they proceed to say that
there are stones of such and such dimensions for the altar of the
dwrxptx;;1 which accords very well with the notice in the first passage,
that the altar had not heen put together, and leads to the inference,
therefore, that by 0vpa/j.a, in the first passage, was meant the eastern
entrance. The allusion to the altar of the 6vr)%6o<; in Bangabe's inscrip-
tion (No. 57 A, line 62) also shows it to have been in the eastern portico,
since the whole passage, both what precedes and what follows, relates to
the fluting of the pillars of that portico.
We have already explained what appears to us to be the reason why
Pausanias, before he has finished his description of the temple of Polias,
flies off at a tangent to speak of the sea water which was found in a
different part of the building; viz. that he was led to do so rather by
the connection of the subject, than by the connection of the parts of the
building. M. Beule explains his somewhat eccentric method in a rather
different, and perhaps more ingenious, way, but substantially to the
same effect; and makes him actually pay a visit to the objects which
have attracted his attention. He supposes that Pausanias, after arriv-
ing under the portico of the temple of Athena, mentions the altars
which decorated the facade and the pictures attached to the walls of the
pronaos, but does not yet enter the temple. He alludes first of all to
the well of sea water and to the marks of the trident. These two
marvels were calculated more than anything else to interest the credu-
lous piety of Pausanias; his first question to his guide was probably
respecting them. On the north side of the hexastyle portico was a
small staircase, the traces of which are still visible. By this he descends
to the northern portico, where he is shown the rock pierced by Poseidon.
At the same time this second portico naturally suggests to him the idea
of a second temple; and in the words " the edifice is double," I think,
says M. Beule, that I recognize the answer of his cicerone. He does
toi /iijKos T(Tpdno&(s, k.t.X. Rose, p. 206.
northern prostasis, as Leake asserts (p. 581, cf. p. 577). In the second
passage, immediately after speaking of the hyperthyrum, or cornice over
the lintel, at the eastern entrance (ra> 777309 ea>), they proceed to say that
there are stones of such and such dimensions for the altar of the
dwrxptx;;1 which accords very well with the notice in the first passage,
that the altar had not heen put together, and leads to the inference,
therefore, that by 0vpa/j.a, in the first passage, was meant the eastern
entrance. The allusion to the altar of the 6vr)%6o<; in Bangabe's inscrip-
tion (No. 57 A, line 62) also shows it to have been in the eastern portico,
since the whole passage, both what precedes and what follows, relates to
the fluting of the pillars of that portico.
We have already explained what appears to us to be the reason why
Pausanias, before he has finished his description of the temple of Polias,
flies off at a tangent to speak of the sea water which was found in a
different part of the building; viz. that he was led to do so rather by
the connection of the subject, than by the connection of the parts of the
building. M. Beule explains his somewhat eccentric method in a rather
different, and perhaps more ingenious, way, but substantially to the
same effect; and makes him actually pay a visit to the objects which
have attracted his attention. He supposes that Pausanias, after arriv-
ing under the portico of the temple of Athena, mentions the altars
which decorated the facade and the pictures attached to the walls of the
pronaos, but does not yet enter the temple. He alludes first of all to
the well of sea water and to the marks of the trident. These two
marvels were calculated more than anything else to interest the credu-
lous piety of Pausanias; his first question to his guide was probably
respecting them. On the north side of the hexastyle portico was a
small staircase, the traces of which are still visible. By this he descends
to the northern portico, where he is shown the rock pierced by Poseidon.
At the same time this second portico naturally suggests to him the idea
of a second temple; and in the words " the edifice is double," I think,
says M. Beule, that I recognize the answer of his cicerone. He does
toi /iijKos T(Tpdno&(s, k.t.X. Rose, p. 206.