DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1004#0403
FOUNTAIN OF PEIRENE. 351
semicircular battery, and after seventy paces another gate, defended by
artillery: within it is the steep rocky fortress on the southern crest of the
Acrocorinth. The eastern wall of this enclosure is strengthened by four
square towers, and the angles are formed with ancient polygonal masonry.
After a little more than a hundred paces we enter a third gate, on the right
of which is a square tower of Pelasgic architecture, by which we pass
into the large enclosure, which comprehends in its circuit the two northern
crests of the Acrocorinth, on the eastern
or higher of which are the remains of the
ancient temple of Venus, on the site of
which a mosque now stands. This larger '
enclosure seems to he comparatively easy of
access, and has been entered by a besieging
force along a path leading between the two
crests, of which we have spoken; and by
a well-concerted attack at different points,
might, perhaps, be surprised, and could not
easily be defended on account of its vast
extent. If the eastern crest, which commands the whole citadel, were
walled into a separate enclosure, it would seem almost impregnable.
The large enclosure resembles a town; it contains many houses, cisterns,
churches, and mosques,—all which are now in ruins. There is a foun-
tain in this enclosure, to the east of the southern crest of it; it is approached
by a descent on a subterranean slope which is nine feet broad, and seems to
ha«e been covered with marble steps. The water is contained in a rectan-
gular basin, at the termination of the slope: above the water the rock is
hewn into an architectural form, resembling the facade of a small temple; it
consists of a tympanum supported by an architrave resting upon two antae,
and a pilaster in the centre of them: above the tympanum there is an
arched vault. On the rock, near the water, are inscribed commemorations
of vows offered in ancient times in this place, which was probably known in
the earliest days of Corinth by the name of the Fountain of Peirene.
There are two other fountains in the lower part of the city, one at the
foot of the citadel, the other in the modern town. The former was believed
to be supplied from the source in the Acrocorinth, and is now called the
fountain of Mustapha; that in the town is named Paliko. From the
semicircular battery, and after seventy paces another gate, defended by
artillery: within it is the steep rocky fortress on the southern crest of the
Acrocorinth. The eastern wall of this enclosure is strengthened by four
square towers, and the angles are formed with ancient polygonal masonry.
After a little more than a hundred paces we enter a third gate, on the right
of which is a square tower of Pelasgic architecture, by which we pass
into the large enclosure, which comprehends in its circuit the two northern
crests of the Acrocorinth, on the eastern
or higher of which are the remains of the
ancient temple of Venus, on the site of
which a mosque now stands. This larger '
enclosure seems to he comparatively easy of
access, and has been entered by a besieging
force along a path leading between the two
crests, of which we have spoken; and by
a well-concerted attack at different points,
might, perhaps, be surprised, and could not
easily be defended on account of its vast
extent. If the eastern crest, which commands the whole citadel, were
walled into a separate enclosure, it would seem almost impregnable.
The large enclosure resembles a town; it contains many houses, cisterns,
churches, and mosques,—all which are now in ruins. There is a foun-
tain in this enclosure, to the east of the southern crest of it; it is approached
by a descent on a subterranean slope which is nine feet broad, and seems to
ha«e been covered with marble steps. The water is contained in a rectan-
gular basin, at the termination of the slope: above the water the rock is
hewn into an architectural form, resembling the facade of a small temple; it
consists of a tympanum supported by an architrave resting upon two antae,
and a pilaster in the centre of them: above the tympanum there is an
arched vault. On the rock, near the water, are inscribed commemorations
of vows offered in ancient times in this place, which was probably known in
the earliest days of Corinth by the name of the Fountain of Peirene.
There are two other fountains in the lower part of the city, one at the
foot of the citadel, the other in the modern town. The former was believed
to be supplied from the source in the Acrocorinth, and is now called the
fountain of Mustapha; that in the town is named Paliko. From the