DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61301#0161
PHOENICIA.
IV
of civilization. She learns from them the art of mining,
of building, of mathematics, of navigation ; they bring
her the strange symbolism of Egypt, they bring her
their own fierce superstitious cults—will she accept them ?
But before we try to answer this question, fascinating
as it is, we have another region to traverse, another path-
way from east to west. The way is not so long, and
because it lies through a land much less familiar we
shall accomplish it the more quickly.
We have touched at Argos by sea, landing with the
Phoenicians in the lovely, sheltered bay of Nauplia. We
must now pass inland a few hours’ journey. Leaving
Nauplia, leaving also the ancient fortress of Tiryns, we
cross the fertile, marshy plain and reach Argos—Argos
with her steep Acropolis, once the seat of kings, with-
in whose narrow streets still dwell a race of kingly
stature and bearing. Even Argos we leave, and crossing
the ancient river Inachus, gradually ascend the rising
ground and stand at last before a fortress still more
ancient than Argos—the stronghold of Mycenae. There
is no place in all Hellas where memories from the farthest
past crowd so thickly upon us. This is Mycenae—“rich
in gold,” the “ ’stablished fortress,” the city of “ wide
ways —which Homer knew so well. Within this citadel
ruled Agamemnon, king of men ; through the doorway
that stands before us (Fig. 5) he passed out to lead his
warriors to the siege of Troy ; on these walls the watch-
IV
of civilization. She learns from them the art of mining,
of building, of mathematics, of navigation ; they bring
her the strange symbolism of Egypt, they bring her
their own fierce superstitious cults—will she accept them ?
But before we try to answer this question, fascinating
as it is, we have another region to traverse, another path-
way from east to west. The way is not so long, and
because it lies through a land much less familiar we
shall accomplish it the more quickly.
We have touched at Argos by sea, landing with the
Phoenicians in the lovely, sheltered bay of Nauplia. We
must now pass inland a few hours’ journey. Leaving
Nauplia, leaving also the ancient fortress of Tiryns, we
cross the fertile, marshy plain and reach Argos—Argos
with her steep Acropolis, once the seat of kings, with-
in whose narrow streets still dwell a race of kingly
stature and bearing. Even Argos we leave, and crossing
the ancient river Inachus, gradually ascend the rising
ground and stand at last before a fortress still more
ancient than Argos—the stronghold of Mycenae. There
is no place in all Hellas where memories from the farthest
past crowd so thickly upon us. This is Mycenae—“rich
in gold,” the “ ’stablished fortress,” the city of “ wide
ways —which Homer knew so well. Within this citadel
ruled Agamemnon, king of men ; through the doorway
that stands before us (Fig. 5) he passed out to lead his
warriors to the siege of Troy ; on these walls the watch-