DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2532#0033
12
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
half occupies the greater part, and while it directly overlooks the sea, the hest means
of protecting the plain were found in the fortresses built on elevations somewhat farther
inland, namely, at Tiryns and Midea. Furthermore, the marshy nature of the soil close
by the sea naturally led the inhabitants in the northerly direction inland. We thus have
a well-defined broad plain, bounded on the south by the sea, on the west by the Inachus,
on the east and north by the Arachnaean group of hills, and on the north by the
Euboean group. This northern hill projects, moreover, in a southerly direction into
the plain in a similar manner to that in which the Lycone-Larisa hills project in an east-
erly direction into the western portion of the Argive plain. The Heraeum is thus the
fittest northern ending to the district commanded by Tiryns and Midea, and is really
most accessible from Tiryns, as the plain is comparatively level from the foot of Euboea
to Tiryns itself. Mycenae behind its hills is a kind of " after-thought," built in this
northernmost corner for special reasons of inland defense, and the earliest traditions,
as we shall see, when subdividing: the regions of the Argive country, do not know even
Fig. 4. — Argive Plain with excavated remains of the Old Temple in the iokegkound.
Argos and Larisa are near the upper left-hand eorner.
its name. But as the visitor approached from the south, the sanctuary of the
Heraeum in its commanding position could be seen from every point. And as the
visitor stands upon its platforms, the most entrancing survey of the whole plain lies
before him (see Note B).
According to Pausanias the Heraemn stood " on one of the lower slopes of Euboea."
The term Euboea did not designate the eminence upon which the Heraeum is placed, or
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
half occupies the greater part, and while it directly overlooks the sea, the hest means
of protecting the plain were found in the fortresses built on elevations somewhat farther
inland, namely, at Tiryns and Midea. Furthermore, the marshy nature of the soil close
by the sea naturally led the inhabitants in the northerly direction inland. We thus have
a well-defined broad plain, bounded on the south by the sea, on the west by the Inachus,
on the east and north by the Arachnaean group of hills, and on the north by the
Euboean group. This northern hill projects, moreover, in a southerly direction into
the plain in a similar manner to that in which the Lycone-Larisa hills project in an east-
erly direction into the western portion of the Argive plain. The Heraeum is thus the
fittest northern ending to the district commanded by Tiryns and Midea, and is really
most accessible from Tiryns, as the plain is comparatively level from the foot of Euboea
to Tiryns itself. Mycenae behind its hills is a kind of " after-thought," built in this
northernmost corner for special reasons of inland defense, and the earliest traditions,
as we shall see, when subdividing: the regions of the Argive country, do not know even
Fig. 4. — Argive Plain with excavated remains of the Old Temple in the iokegkound.
Argos and Larisa are near the upper left-hand eorner.
its name. But as the visitor approached from the south, the sanctuary of the
Heraeum in its commanding position could be seen from every point. And as the
visitor stands upon its platforms, the most entrancing survey of the whole plain lies
before him (see Note B).
According to Pausanias the Heraemn stood " on one of the lower slopes of Euboea."
The term Euboea did not designate the eminence upon which the Heraeum is placed, or