DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.800#0472
THE PELASQWUM.
449
of such a wall might help us to understand the account of Herodotus,'
that on the approach of the Persians, those Athenians who misunder-
stood the oracle about the wooden wall, placed stakes and planking
round the Acropolis; that is, round the summit of it; which would
have been absurd, if not impracticable, if the wall ran round the top.
The greater part of the Pelasgic wall was probably destroyed after the
capture of the Acropolis by the Persians had shown that it was useless
for defence, and the wall round the summit erected in its stead. It
may indeed have been destroyed by the Persians themselves, if we should
be disposed to construe literally the words of Herodotus; but it is
hardly probable that Mardonius should have undertaken so vast and
useless a labour concerning an obstacle he had so easily overcome; and
probably the passage conveys only that vague and general meaning of
terrible destruction, which we so often find in descriptions of this
nature.2 The foundations of the wall would then have served to make
that road, or path, round the sides of the Acropolis to which we have
already alluded; just as in modern times ramparts are turned into
boulevards. But we offer these only as conjectures, and for what they
may be worth in helping to solve a very difficult problem in Athenian
topography. One thing at least appears certain, that part of the enclo-
sure was known in later times by the name of the Pelasgicum (to
TleKacrfiKov). Lucian alludes to it not only in the passage just quoted,
but also in another in the dialogue of the ' Fisherman,' where Parrhesi-
ades is represented as perched on the wall of the Acropolis, and fishing
for philosophers by letting down his line into the Pelasgicum.3
We may observe, that we find the Pelasgic fortification mentioned by
ancient authors under two distinct appellations; namely, as the Pelasgic
wall, or rather fortress (to UeXaajiKov Tet%o<?), and simply as the Pelas-
gicum (to TLekavyiicov). But the former name appears to be used only
in passages relating to a period antecedent to the Persian wars, while
the latter refers to a subsequent time. Thus, Herodotus relates how
lib. viii. 51. ipav, ■nana Karafidhaiv Km ovy^oxras.-
<pnpt)<ras Tf ras 'ASr/vas, na\ t" kov tl lib. ix. 13.
upobv tjv T&v Tfi^tW t) rani ohrjiidrav q tup 3 Piscatnr, C. 47.
2 G
449
of such a wall might help us to understand the account of Herodotus,'
that on the approach of the Persians, those Athenians who misunder-
stood the oracle about the wooden wall, placed stakes and planking
round the Acropolis; that is, round the summit of it; which would
have been absurd, if not impracticable, if the wall ran round the top.
The greater part of the Pelasgic wall was probably destroyed after the
capture of the Acropolis by the Persians had shown that it was useless
for defence, and the wall round the summit erected in its stead. It
may indeed have been destroyed by the Persians themselves, if we should
be disposed to construe literally the words of Herodotus; but it is
hardly probable that Mardonius should have undertaken so vast and
useless a labour concerning an obstacle he had so easily overcome; and
probably the passage conveys only that vague and general meaning of
terrible destruction, which we so often find in descriptions of this
nature.2 The foundations of the wall would then have served to make
that road, or path, round the sides of the Acropolis to which we have
already alluded; just as in modern times ramparts are turned into
boulevards. But we offer these only as conjectures, and for what they
may be worth in helping to solve a very difficult problem in Athenian
topography. One thing at least appears certain, that part of the enclo-
sure was known in later times by the name of the Pelasgicum (to
TleKacrfiKov). Lucian alludes to it not only in the passage just quoted,
but also in another in the dialogue of the ' Fisherman,' where Parrhesi-
ades is represented as perched on the wall of the Acropolis, and fishing
for philosophers by letting down his line into the Pelasgicum.3
We may observe, that we find the Pelasgic fortification mentioned by
ancient authors under two distinct appellations; namely, as the Pelasgic
wall, or rather fortress (to UeXaajiKov Tet%o<?), and simply as the Pelas-
gicum (to TLekavyiicov). But the former name appears to be used only
in passages relating to a period antecedent to the Persian wars, while
the latter refers to a subsequent time. Thus, Herodotus relates how
lib. viii. 51. ipav, ■nana Karafidhaiv Km ovy^oxras.-
<pnpt)<ras Tf ras 'ASr/vas, na\ t" kov tl lib. ix. 13.
upobv tjv T&v Tfi^tW t) rani ohrjiidrav q tup 3 Piscatnr, C. 47.
2 G