Stanhope, John Spencer: Olympia or topography illustrative of the actual state of the plain of Olympia and of the ruins of the city of Elis (London, 1824)

Greece, to her mosl sacred institutions: an edifice, the invention of which
vwas considered so glorious by its architect, that upon a statue which
lie afterwards executed at Athens, he commemorated it as his proudest

distinction".

Willi what degree of plausibility, indeed, can it be presumed, that a
people who carried architecture to its highest perfection, and who left
us those glorious remains, which even in decay and mutilation we yet
contemplate with hopeless wonder—a people abounding in precious
materials, and lavish in the employ of them, should practise a niggardly
economy, in tin; construction of that building;, where we. might well expect
that contending states would vie with each other in decoration and
expense! A fact so utterly irreconcilable with their general tastes and
uniform magnificence is surely most unlikely, and if not corresponding wit!)
the description ofPausanias, altogether incredible.

i shall now refer lo thai author's accountf of the Aphesis.

The Aphesis presents the appearance of the prow of a ship, of which
[lie beak or emholon is turned towards the course. Al the side where the

*Tlie 1'ullov.in;; iiiM-ri[i(iiin ivus I'li-i^vnl IiiiikmiIi the stntllC :

Klcoitos, son of Aristoclcs, ramie me; the some who first invented your Hippitnliesis, 0 Olympin.

Pmisftn. El. lih. ll. .'.SO.