DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.803#0038
32 . THE BRITISH MUSEUM.
numerous instances on record in antient times of
public libraries existing in large cities; a kind of
establishment more necessary than at the present day,
when books can be produced at so much less expense
since the invention of printing; but still we can not
help considering the economy of every town incom-
plete without a public library.
One of the most interesting edifices of Athens has
left but few. and doubtful traces of its existence, we
mean the Pcecile, or painted piazza, which Colonel
Leake places between the gateway of the New Agora
and the temple of Theseus, and about two hundred
yards from the former. In the time of Pausanias this
place was still adorned with many paintings, repre-
senting some of the great events in the Athenian
mythus, and also some of their victories. In one part
was painted the battle of Marathon *: " The Platoeans
and Athenians are represented as just commencing
the engagement with the Persians; so far neither
party appears to have the advantage. But farther on
we see the barbarians in flight, driving one another
into the marsh; and in the distance we spy the Phoe-
nician galleys, and the Greeks massacring the bar-
barians who are hurrying in confusion on board their
vessels."
The Theseium, or temple of Theseus, to which we
have already alluded, stands just within the modern
walls on a natural elevation, and also on an artificial
substruction of stone. It was built about b. c. 465,
and of course about thirty years before the Parthenon;
but its dimensions are inconsiderable when compared
with those of the temple on the Acropolis. It is a
peripteral hexastyle temple, with thirteen columns on
each side, which are not quite 19 feet high, and only
about three feet four inches in diameter at the base.
The whole is constructed of Pentelic marble. The
pediment of the chief or eastern front was adorned
'-■•.-'-, • Pausan. i. 15.
numerous instances on record in antient times of
public libraries existing in large cities; a kind of
establishment more necessary than at the present day,
when books can be produced at so much less expense
since the invention of printing; but still we can not
help considering the economy of every town incom-
plete without a public library.
One of the most interesting edifices of Athens has
left but few. and doubtful traces of its existence, we
mean the Pcecile, or painted piazza, which Colonel
Leake places between the gateway of the New Agora
and the temple of Theseus, and about two hundred
yards from the former. In the time of Pausanias this
place was still adorned with many paintings, repre-
senting some of the great events in the Athenian
mythus, and also some of their victories. In one part
was painted the battle of Marathon *: " The Platoeans
and Athenians are represented as just commencing
the engagement with the Persians; so far neither
party appears to have the advantage. But farther on
we see the barbarians in flight, driving one another
into the marsh; and in the distance we spy the Phoe-
nician galleys, and the Greeks massacring the bar-
barians who are hurrying in confusion on board their
vessels."
The Theseium, or temple of Theseus, to which we
have already alluded, stands just within the modern
walls on a natural elevation, and also on an artificial
substruction of stone. It was built about b. c. 465,
and of course about thirty years before the Parthenon;
but its dimensions are inconsiderable when compared
with those of the temple on the Acropolis. It is a
peripteral hexastyle temple, with thirteen columns on
each side, which are not quite 19 feet high, and only
about three feet four inches in diameter at the base.
The whole is constructed of Pentelic marble. The
pediment of the chief or eastern front was adorned
'-■•.-'-, • Pausan. i. 15.