DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.875#0037
V .. - ( M )
a ARCH of .THESEUS, or ADRIAN,
IT was certainly intended, either by the Athenians, or Adrian to convey an exact Idea to Pofte-
fterity of the Limits of their ancient City : For which Purpofe we find the Building erected, a»
reprefented in'Plate XII. which.on the Side next the Citadel hath this Infcription, This is the City
of Thefeus; and on the other, This is the City of Adrian, and not that of Thefeus.
Though at this Time the Greeks call this Arch by the Name of Thefeus, yet it might with equal,
if not with more Propriety, be called the Arch of Adrian^ becauie in reviewing its Architecture,
it appears to have been built about .his Time, fince the Columns of this Arch have Plinths in the
lower Part of their Bale, and that we fee noneof thefe Plinths in the lonick Order of the Temple
of Eriblheus at Athens, nor in the Corinthian Order of the Lanthorn of Dentofihenes, nor indeed
in the Corinthian Bafes, found in the Iiland of Delos. The Architecture of this Edifice is but
indifferent.
The Columns on the left Hand of this Arch, are the Remains of Adrians, Pantheon. Here is
likewife feen the Temple.of Diana Argoteia, or the Huntrefs, of which Paufanias ipeaks. "Tis on
the other Side, the Iliffus, and near it is "the Stadium. Diana, according to the Athenians Report,
coming thither from Delos, refided in that Part of Attica, near to Mount Hymetta, which
abounded with Game. In this Temple-the young Women who became pregnant, .depofited their
Zones of Virginity as a Sacrifice to this Goddefs, who detefted conjugal Embraces.
There is a fmall Temple built by the Greeks, in which are found fome beautiful Pieces of Mofaic
Work': 'Tis now a Church ufed by the modern Greeks, dedicated to Stauromenos Petros, or St. Peter
'Crucified. A Building too inconfiderable to admit of further Defcription.
0 D E If M
T;HE Odeum '(as in Plate XII.) is fituate upon the Brow of that Rock that hath the Turkish
burying Place North ; the Theatre of Bacchus and the Caftle Eaft, with a little Valley be-
-tweeri. The Foundations are of vaif. Stones, cut in a Point like a Diamond. Its Plan is fomething
more than a Semi-Ellipfis; the back Part of which forms an obtufe Angle, hewn out of the folid
Rock, whofe Diameter is Four Hundred and" twenty 'Feet. In-the Center of its Radii is cut a
fquare Place, higher than the reft of the Area, behind which are Steps to go to the Top, that are
about fix Feet high ; on each Side of that are Seats, near the Length of the Radii; this has been
thought by fome the Tribunal of the fo much celebrated Areopagus, and the Benches on each Side
the Seats of the Senators: But with greater Probability it was the Odeum, or Muftc Theatre, built
by Pericles ; and notwithftanding itsprefent Condition, was once the greateft Ornament of the City
^of Athens,.
a ARCH of .THESEUS, or ADRIAN,
IT was certainly intended, either by the Athenians, or Adrian to convey an exact Idea to Pofte-
fterity of the Limits of their ancient City : For which Purpofe we find the Building erected, a»
reprefented in'Plate XII. which.on the Side next the Citadel hath this Infcription, This is the City
of Thefeus; and on the other, This is the City of Adrian, and not that of Thefeus.
Though at this Time the Greeks call this Arch by the Name of Thefeus, yet it might with equal,
if not with more Propriety, be called the Arch of Adrian^ becauie in reviewing its Architecture,
it appears to have been built about .his Time, fince the Columns of this Arch have Plinths in the
lower Part of their Bale, and that we fee noneof thefe Plinths in the lonick Order of the Temple
of Eriblheus at Athens, nor in the Corinthian Order of the Lanthorn of Dentofihenes, nor indeed
in the Corinthian Bafes, found in the Iiland of Delos. The Architecture of this Edifice is but
indifferent.
The Columns on the left Hand of this Arch, are the Remains of Adrians, Pantheon. Here is
likewife feen the Temple.of Diana Argoteia, or the Huntrefs, of which Paufanias ipeaks. "Tis on
the other Side, the Iliffus, and near it is "the Stadium. Diana, according to the Athenians Report,
coming thither from Delos, refided in that Part of Attica, near to Mount Hymetta, which
abounded with Game. In this Temple-the young Women who became pregnant, .depofited their
Zones of Virginity as a Sacrifice to this Goddefs, who detefted conjugal Embraces.
There is a fmall Temple built by the Greeks, in which are found fome beautiful Pieces of Mofaic
Work': 'Tis now a Church ufed by the modern Greeks, dedicated to Stauromenos Petros, or St. Peter
'Crucified. A Building too inconfiderable to admit of further Defcription.
0 D E If M
T;HE Odeum '(as in Plate XII.) is fituate upon the Brow of that Rock that hath the Turkish
burying Place North ; the Theatre of Bacchus and the Caftle Eaft, with a little Valley be-
-tweeri. The Foundations are of vaif. Stones, cut in a Point like a Diamond. Its Plan is fomething
more than a Semi-Ellipfis; the back Part of which forms an obtufe Angle, hewn out of the folid
Rock, whofe Diameter is Four Hundred and" twenty 'Feet. In-the Center of its Radii is cut a
fquare Place, higher than the reft of the Area, behind which are Steps to go to the Top, that are
about fix Feet high ; on each Side of that are Seats, near the Length of the Radii; this has been
thought by fome the Tribunal of the fo much celebrated Areopagus, and the Benches on each Side
the Seats of the Senators: But with greater Probability it was the Odeum, or Muftc Theatre, built
by Pericles ; and notwithftanding itsprefent Condition, was once the greateft Ornament of the City
^of Athens,.