DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.14144#0207
BLESSED RESULTS OF THE PERSLAN WARS. 171
had to contend, the hearts of the Athenians at least were not cowed
by the magnitude of the danger, but only made to beat with a
stronger, quicker pulsation, which sent the full tide of a more glo-
rious life through every swelling vein and thrilling nerve. Such
periods are not only fruitful of great warriors and statesmen, but of
immortal poets and artists; and ^Eschylus and Pheidias are as
natural offspring of the Persian wars as Miltiades and Pericles.
The battle of Marathon, in which the Athenians first faced the
dreaded Persians 1 and came off victorious, taught them their innate
superiority over their barbarian foes, and saved them alike from
foreign dependence and domestic tyranny. During the ten succeeding
years they lived in the joyous consciousness of victory gained by
heroic deeds and of capacity for unbounded sacrifice. Their hearts beat
high at the prospect of a renewed struggle, and the memories of the
glorious past prepared and strengthened them for the crowning efforts
of Salamis, Platseae, and Mycale.
The tremendous crisis occasioned by the invasion of the Persians
naturally brought the noblest of the Greek races to the front; and
when we speak of Greece—her mighty efforts and her glorious
triumphs—we generally mean Athens alone. Without the high-
spirited, adventurous (many would say imprudent) initiative of
Athens, the heroic self-devotion of Leonidas, the selfish patriotism of
the Spartans, would have availed but little.'2
It was natural that the State which had shown the greatest vigour
and made the greatest sacrifices should reap the highest rewards both
in national vitality and strength and in external power. Athens, of
which we have heard so little in the preceding periods, now assumes
the first place in plastic art, while other cities, hitherto so conspicuous,
as Sparta, Argos, Sicyon, and yEgina, are either, like the last of these,
heard of no more, or take their tone from Athens.
The very misfortunes of this city were favourable to the display
of her unrivalled powers of construction. Had it been left uninjured
1 Herod, vi. 112: 'The Athenians were the mere name of the Medes was a terror to
the first of Ihe Hellenes, as far at we know, the BdltmtS
who charged the enemy, and the first who 1 Head the noble answer of the Athenians
braved the sight of the Median dress, and to Alexander, the envoy of Mardonius (He-
of the men in this dress, for up to this time rod. viii. 143).
had to contend, the hearts of the Athenians at least were not cowed
by the magnitude of the danger, but only made to beat with a
stronger, quicker pulsation, which sent the full tide of a more glo-
rious life through every swelling vein and thrilling nerve. Such
periods are not only fruitful of great warriors and statesmen, but of
immortal poets and artists; and ^Eschylus and Pheidias are as
natural offspring of the Persian wars as Miltiades and Pericles.
The battle of Marathon, in which the Athenians first faced the
dreaded Persians 1 and came off victorious, taught them their innate
superiority over their barbarian foes, and saved them alike from
foreign dependence and domestic tyranny. During the ten succeeding
years they lived in the joyous consciousness of victory gained by
heroic deeds and of capacity for unbounded sacrifice. Their hearts beat
high at the prospect of a renewed struggle, and the memories of the
glorious past prepared and strengthened them for the crowning efforts
of Salamis, Platseae, and Mycale.
The tremendous crisis occasioned by the invasion of the Persians
naturally brought the noblest of the Greek races to the front; and
when we speak of Greece—her mighty efforts and her glorious
triumphs—we generally mean Athens alone. Without the high-
spirited, adventurous (many would say imprudent) initiative of
Athens, the heroic self-devotion of Leonidas, the selfish patriotism of
the Spartans, would have availed but little.'2
It was natural that the State which had shown the greatest vigour
and made the greatest sacrifices should reap the highest rewards both
in national vitality and strength and in external power. Athens, of
which we have heard so little in the preceding periods, now assumes
the first place in plastic art, while other cities, hitherto so conspicuous,
as Sparta, Argos, Sicyon, and yEgina, are either, like the last of these,
heard of no more, or take their tone from Athens.
The very misfortunes of this city were favourable to the display
of her unrivalled powers of construction. Had it been left uninjured
1 Herod, vi. 112: 'The Athenians were the mere name of the Medes was a terror to
the first of Ihe Hellenes, as far at we know, the BdltmtS
who charged the enemy, and the first who 1 Head the noble answer of the Athenians
braved the sight of the Median dress, and to Alexander, the envoy of Mardonius (He-
of the men in this dress, for up to this time rod. viii. 143).