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PREFACE.
PREFACE.
The reader is requested to observe, that, though the plan of this work is entirely his own, the compiler of it does not put it forth as in any way original in respect to language or description. It is, in fact, a much better book, than if it had been what is strictly called original, (which, indeed, must have involved an utter impossibility:) for it is a selection of some of the best materials the British Museum could furnish; sometimes worked up in his own language; and sometimes—and, indeed, v
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NO. I.—ABYDOS.
NO. I.—ABYDOS.
Of chance or change, oh! let not man complain; Else shall he never, never, cease to wail; For from the imperial dome, to where the swain Rears his lone cottage in the silent dale, All feel the assault of fortune's fickle gale. Art, empire, earth itself, to change are doom'd; Earthquakes have raised to heaven the humble vale; And gulfs the mountains' mighty mass entomb'd; And where the Atlantic rolls wide continents have bloom'd. BEATTIE. This city stood on the Asiatic side of the Hellespont, now
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NO. II.—ABYDUS.
NO. II.—ABYDUS.
Abydus, in Egypt, is now called Madfuneh, or the Buried City . According to Pliny and Strabo it was a colony of Milesians. It is said once to have nearly equalled Thebes in grandeur and magnificence; but it was reduced to a village in the reign of Augustus, and is now only a heap of uninhabited ruins. In its neighbourhood, however, the celebrated tomb of Ismandes is still found; he who built the temple of Osiris, into which no singers or dancers were ever allowed to enter. Besides numerous tombs
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NO. III.—ÆGESTA.
NO. III.—ÆGESTA.
The sterile country between Trapani and Alcamo (in Sicily) may render the stranger better prepared to contemplate one of the finest of ancient monuments—all that remains of Ægesta, celebrated for the temple of the Erycinian Venus. This town, situated on a height at the base of Mount Eryx, was deserted and almost in ruins at so early a period as the time of Strabo. All travellers, who have examined the temple, are unanimous in its commendation. "The effect it produced at a distance," says Mons. S
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NO. IV.—ÆGINA.
NO. IV.—ÆGINA.
"We seated ourselves on a fallen column," says Mr. Williams, "and could not but admire the scene before us: Attica, Peloponnesus, and the gulf of Ægina, with their many points of attraction, addressing both the eye and the mind! While we were enjoying the splendid view, two shepherds stepped from the ruins, and passing their crooks from their right hand to their left, pressed their hearts and foreheads, and kissed their hands in a manner than which nothing could be more graceful. Their eyes besp
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NO. V.—AGRIGENTUM.
NO. V.—AGRIGENTUM.
The citadel of Agrigentum (Sicily) was situated on Mount Agragas; the city in the vale below; forming a magnificent spectacle at a distance. It was founded by a native of Rhodes, according to Polybius; but by a colony from Ionia, according to Strabo; about one hundred and eighty years after the founding of Syracuse. Thucydides, however, says that it was founded by a colony from Gela. The government was at first monarchical; afterwards democratical. Phalaris, so well known for his superior talent
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NO. VI.—ALBA LONGA.
NO. VI.—ALBA LONGA.
It has been stated, or rather speculated upon, that the entire history of this place is no other than a romance. By Dionysius of Halicarnassus, however, it is said to have existed four hundred and eighty-seven years; when, after having been the founder of thirty other Latin cities, it was destroyed by the Roman power. That it existed, is also attested by the ruins that now remain. Its ancient characteristics are thus described by Dionysius:—it was so built, with regard to its mountain and lake,
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NO. VII.—ALCANTARA.
NO. VII.—ALCANTARA.
This town (in Spain) was built by the Moors, who gave it the name it bears; which, in the Moorish language, signifies a bridge; and this bridge shows that the original city belonged to the Romans in the time of Trajan; for on one of the arches is this inscription:— IMP. CAESARI, D. NERVAE, F. NERVAE. TRAIANO. AVG. GERM. DACICO. PONT. MAX. TRIB. POTEST. VIII. IMP. VI. COS. V. P.P. Formerly there were four pieces of marble, fixed in the walls of the bridge; in each of which there was an inscriptio
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NO. VIII.—ALEXANDRIA.
NO. VIII.—ALEXANDRIA.
Of the several capitals of Egypt in successive ages [11] , Thebes, or Diospolis, was the most ancient. Next was Memphis; itself a city of the most remote antiquity. Babylon seems to have been only the capital of a part, retained by the Persians, after Cambyses had subdued Egypt; and was, by all accounts, founded by the Persians. Alexandria succeeded Memphis, and remained the chief city, till the Saracens founded Misr-el-Kahira. Alexander, in his way to the temple of Jupiter Ammon, observed, oppo
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NO. IX.—AMISUS.
NO. IX.—AMISUS.
This city was founded by a colony from Miletus and Athens, who preserved their independence till they were conquered by the Persians. They succeeded in maintaining their liberties under Alexander. During a war with Mithridates, king of Pontus, Lucullus, the Roman general, laid strong siege to this town; and while so engaged, his troops murmured against him:—"Our general," said they, "amuses himself with sieges, which, after all, are not worth the trouble he bestows upon them." When Lucullus hear
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NO. X.—ANTIOCH.
NO. X.—ANTIOCH.
There are few cities whose immediate origin we know so well as that of Antioch. Antigonus had built a city at a small distance from the spot on which Antioch was afterwards erected, and this he called after his own name, Antigonia. After his death Seleucus, having made himself master of Upper Syria, determined on founding a city. He, in consequence, demolished the one Antigonus had built, and employed its materials in con structing his own [32] . This he named after his son, Antiochus. He afterw
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NO. XI.—ARGOS.
NO. XI.—ARGOS.
Argos was founded in the 1856th year before the Christian era; that is, in the time of Abraham. Its founder was Inachus. Euripides, however, says, that the city was built by the Cyclops, who came from Syria. After flourishing for about 550 years, it was united to the crown of Mycenæ. According to Herodotus, Argos was the most famous of all the states, comprehended under the general name of Greece. For a long time it was the most flourishing city in Greece; and this chiefly from its being enriche
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NO. XII.—ARIAMMENE.
NO. XII.—ARIAMMENE.
This city was situate on the banks of the Araxes. It is now called Esqui-Julfa; and Chardin, Cartwright, and Sir W. Ouseley, we believe, are almost the only travellers who have given any description of it. "They called it Old Julfa," says Chardin, "to distinguish it from the Julfa which is a suburb of Ispahan; and not without reason is it so called, since it is totally ruined and demolished. There is nothing further to be known of it, except the grandeur which it once enjoyed. There are nothing
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NO. XIII.—ARSINOE.
NO. XIII.—ARSINOE.
Arsinoe was situated near the lake of Mœris, on the west shore of the Nile, where the inhabitants paid the highest veneration to crocodiles. They nourished them in a splendid manner, embalmed them after they were dead, and buried them in the subterranean cells of the Labyrinth; thence the city was called, in ancient times, Crocodilopolis [43] . When the Greeks conquered Egypt they altered its name to Arsinoe. This name it retained in the time of Adrian, and Greek medals were struck here in honou
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NO. XIV.—ARTAXATA.
NO. XIV.—ARTAXATA.
The ruins of this city are seen at a place called Ardachar, or, as it is more frequently called in the East, Ardechier; sometimes Ardesh. The city rose above the plain with fortress, palaces, and temples; and two more splendid than the rest, one dedicated to Anaites or Armatea, the other, a magnificent structure to Apollo. Statues were raised in all. Artaxata was the capital of Armenia, and the residence of the Armenian kings. It was situate on a plain, upon an elbow of the Araxes, which formed
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NO. XV.—ARTEMITA.
NO. XV.—ARTEMITA.
Artemita was a large town in Mesopotamia, according to Pliny the naturalist; but Strabo, more correctly, places it in Babylonia, five hundred stadia east of Seleucia, on the banks of the lake Arsissa, now called Argish. Though Chosroes was undoubtedly sovereign of Ctesiphon and built the splendid palace, of which the remains are visible; he did not approach the gates of that city for nearly four-and-twenty years. His favourite residence was Dustegerd (Artemita), situate on the Tigris, not less t
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NO. XVI.—ATHENS.
NO. XVI.—ATHENS.
"Look! on the Ægean shore a city stands, Built nobly, pure the air and light the soil. Athens! the eye of Greece, mother of arts And eloquence, native to famous wits, Or hospitable in her sweet recess. City or suburban studious walks and shades! See there the olive groves of Academe, Plato's retirement, where the Attic bird Thrills her thick-warbled notes the summer long. There, flowery hill, Hymettus, with the sound Of bees, industrious murmur, oft invites To studious musing; there Ilissus roll
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NO. XVII.—BABYLON.
NO. XVII.—BABYLON.
Babylon and Nineveh appear to have resembled each other, not only in form but in extent and population. Quintus Curtius asserts, that Babylon owed its origin to Semiramis. In the Bible, however, it having been stated, that one of the chief cities of Nimrod was Babel; many authors have given into the idea, that Babylon was built by Nimrod. If we attend strictly to the words of Moses, however, we shall find that to have been an impossible circumstance. Moses states, that Nimrod had four large citi
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NO. XVIII.—BALBEC.
NO. XVIII.—BALBEC.
Those ruined shrines and towers, that seem The relics of a splendid dream; Amid whose fairy loveliness Nought but the lapwing's cry is heard; Nought seen but (when the shadows, flitting Fast from the moon, unsheath its gleam) Some purple-winged Sultana [135] sitting Upon a column motionless, And glittering like an idol bird. * * * * * But nought can charm the luckless Peri; Her soul is sad—her wings are weary— Joyless she sees the sun go down O
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NO. XIX.—BYZANTIUM.
NO. XIX.—BYZANTIUM.
"On which side soever," says an elegant traveller, "you approach Constantinople, whether ascending by the Dardanelles and the sea of Marmora, or descending from the Black Sea by the Bosphorus; whether you arrive by crossing the plain of Thrace, or come in sight from the opposite hills of Asia, she presents herself, indeed, like 'the queen of cities.'" The history of this city being that of an empire, we shall confine ourselves to a few particulars, and then pass on to give some account of its mo
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NO. XX.—CAIRO (OLD).
NO. XX.—CAIRO (OLD).
This city is said, by some, to have been founded by Semiramis, when she invaded Egypt; others suppose it to have been erected by the Persians under Cambyses in the place where Latopolis formerly stood. Strabo, however, asserts, that it was built by some barbarians who had retired thither by permission of their sovereign; and that in his time the Romans kept in garrison there one of the three legions that were kept in Egypt. It is now called Fostat, and is situate between Grand Cairo and the Nile
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NO. XXI.—CANNÆ.
NO. XXI.—CANNÆ.
Cannæ is a small village of Apulia, near the Aufidus, famous for a battle between Hannibal and the Romans; and as the spot where the battle was fought is still pointed out by the inhabitants, and is still denominated "the field of blood," we shall refresh the memories of our readers with an account of it. Both armies having often removed from place to place, came in sight of each other near Cannæ. As Hannibal was encamped in a level open country, and his cavalry much superior to that of the Roma
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NO. XXII.—CAPUA.
NO. XXII.—CAPUA.
Capua, once the chief city of Campania, was founded by Capys, who is described as having been the father, or rather the companion, of Anchises. It was at one time so opulent, that it was called "the other Rome." Perhaps our readers will have no objection to have their memories refreshed by an allusion to the mistake, committed at this place by Hannibal. The details of it will give some variety to our page. It is thus related by Rollin, from the luminous page of Livy:—"The battle of Cannæ subject
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NO. XXIII.—CARTHAGE.
NO. XXIII.—CARTHAGE.
Carthage was founded by the Tyrians about the year of the world 3158, and 846 before Christ; that is, at the period in which Joash was king of Judah. Its empire lasted about seven hundred years. The Carthaginians were indebted to the Tyrians not only for their origin, but their manners, customs, laws, religion, and their general application to commerce. They spoke the same language with the Tyrians, and these the same with the Canaanites and Israelites; that is, the Hebrew; or at least a languag
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NO. XXIV.—CATANEA.
NO. XXIV.—CATANEA.
This city, situated at the foot of Mount Etna, was founded by a colony from Chalcis, seven hundred and fifty-three years before the Christian era; and soon after the settlement of Syracuse. There have not been wanting some, however, to assert that ancient Catanea was one of the oldest cities in the world. It fell into the hands of the Romans, and became the residence of a prætor. It was then adorned with sumptuous buildings of all kinds. It was destroyed, however, by Pompey; and restored by Augu
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NO. XXV.—CHALCEDON.
NO. XXV.—CHALCEDON.
This place, which stands opposite Byzantium, was built by a colony from Megara, some years before Byzantium, viz. B. C. 685. Its position was so imprudently selected, that it was called the city of blind men [187] ; by which was intimated the inconsiderate plan of the founders. It was built on a sandy and barren soil, in preference to the rich one on the opposite side of the Bosphorus, on which Byzantium was afterwards founded. Chalcedon, in the time of its prosperity, was considerable; not only
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NO. XXVI.—CHÆRONEA.
NO. XXVI.—CHÆRONEA.
A city in Bœotia, greatly celebrated on account of a battle fought near it between Philip of Macedon and the Athenians. The two armies encamped near Chæronea. Philip gave the command of his left wing to his son Alexander, who was then but sixteen. He took the right wing upon himself. In the opposite army the Thebans formed the right wing, and the Athenians the left. At sunrise the signal was given on both sides. The battle was bloody, and the victory a long time dubious; both sides exerting them
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NO. XXVII.—CORDUBA.
NO. XXVII.—CORDUBA.
"Are we at Cordova?" says a modern writer. "The whole reign of the Omniad Caliphs passes, in mental review, before us. Once the seat of Arabian art, gallantry, and magnificence, the southern kingdom of Spain was rich and flourishing. Agriculture was respected; the fine arts cultivated; gardens were formed; roads executed; palaces erected; and physics, geometry, and astronomy, advanced. The inhabitants were active and industrious; accomplishments were held in esteem; and the whole state of societ
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NO. XXVIII.—CORCYRA. (CORFU.)
NO. XXVIII.—CORCYRA. (CORFU.)
Corcyra is an island in the Ionian Sea, on the coast of Epirus: it is now called Corfu; was first peopled by a colony from Colchis, B. C. 1349, and afterwards by a colony from Corinth, who, with Chersicrates at their head, came to settle there, on being banished from their native city 703 years before the Christian era. Homer calls it Phæacia; Callimachus, Drepane. Ancient authors give glorious descriptions of the beautiful gardens of this island belonging to Alcinous; but, at present, no remain
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NO. XXIX.—CORINTH.
NO. XXIX.—CORINTH.
Corinth!— Whose gorgeous fabrics seem'd to strike the skies, Whom, though by tyrant victors oft subdued, Greece, Egypt, Rome, with awful wonder view'd. Her name, for Pallas' heavenly art renown'd, Spread like the foliage which her pillars crown'd; But now in fatal desolation laid, Oblivion o'er it draws a dismal shade. This city was situated at the foot of a hill, on which stood the citadel. To the south it was defended by the hill itself, which is there extremely steep. Strong and lofty rampart
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NO. XXX. CTESIPHON.
NO. XXX. CTESIPHON.
The Parthian monarchs delighted in the pastoral life of their Scythian ancestors; and the royal camp was frequently pitched in the plain of Ctesiphon, on the eastern bank of the Tigris, at the distance of only three miles from Seleucia. It was, then, no other than a village. By the influx of innumerable attendants on luxury and despotism, who resorted to the court, this village insensibly swelled into a large city; and there the Parthian kings, acting by Seleucia as the Greeks, who built that pl
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NO. XXXI.—DELPHOS.
NO. XXXI.—DELPHOS.
Casting the eye over the site of ancient Delphos [212] , one cannot imagine what has become of the walls of the numerous buildings, which are mentioned in the history of its former magnificence. With the exception of a few terraces, nothing now appears. We do not even see any swellings or risings in the ground, indicating the graves of the temple. All, therefore, is mystery; and the Greeks may truly say,—"Where stood the walls of our fathers? Scarce their mossy tombs remain!" But Though here no
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NO. XXXII.—ECBATANA.
NO. XXXII.—ECBATANA.
This city, which Heraclius says was as large as Athens, was founded by one of the most illustrious princes that ever adorned the earth—Dejoces, King of the Medes. Not that we mean to vindicate or approve all that he did; but, "taking him for all in all," history has but few characters that can be placed in competition with him. It is not our intention to write the history of this celebrated prince anew, his story being almost unanimously allowed: we have only to copy. We shall, therefore, select
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NO. XXXIII.—ELEUSIS.
NO. XXXIII.—ELEUSIS.
This was a town of Attica, equally distant from Megara and the Piræus; greatly celebrated for the observance, every fifth year, of the greatest festival in Greece, called the Eleusinian; a festival sacred to Ceres and Proserpine; every thing appertaining to which was a secret, or mystery; to divulge any of which was supposed to call down an immediate judgment from heaven. "Ceres," says an Athenian orator, "wandering in quest of her daughter Proserpine, came into Attica, where some good offices w
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NO. XXXIV.—ELIS.
NO. XXXIV.—ELIS.
Elis was formed, like many of the Grecian cities, more especially in the Peloponnesus, by the union of several hamlets. It was a large and populous city in the time of Demosthenes; but in that of Homer it did not exist. Elis was originally governed by kings, and received its name from Eleus, one of its monarchs. It was famous for the horses it produced, whose celebrity was so often tried at the Olympic games. "On our arrival at Elis," says Anacharsis, "we met a procession on its way to the templ
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NO. XXXV.—EPHESUS.
NO. XXXV.—EPHESUS.
This city was once reputed the metropolis of Asia; and thence it was styled Epiphanestata, a name signifying "Monstrous." It was at first not merely a village, but a small village; yet, in the time of Strabo, it was the largest and most frequented emporium of all that continent. It was situated in Ionia, about 50 miles south of Smyrna, near the mouth of the river Cayster. Pliny tells us, that before his age, it had been known by various names. In the time of the Trojan war, it was called Alopes;
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NO. XXXVI.—GERASA. (DJERASH.)
NO. XXXVI.—GERASA. (DJERASH.)
This city is placed among those of the Decapolis, in Matthew, vii. 28; and it is from a rock near it, from which the swine are described as having ran down into the Dead Sea. By some it is included in Cœlosyria; by others in Arabia. The ruins of this city were discovered by the well known traveller, M. Seetzen (Conseiller d'Ambassade de S. M. l'Empereur de Russie). His letters were addressed to M. von Zach, Grand Marshal of the court of Saxe Gotha, and part of them appeared, at different times,
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NO. XXXVII.—GRANADA.
NO. XXXVII.—GRANADA.
The city of Granada [252] has twelve gates; and is about eight miles round, defended by high walls, flanked with a multitude of towers. Its situation is of a mixed kind; some parts of it being upon the mountain, and other parts in the plain. The mountainous part stands upon three small eminences; the one is called Albrezzin; which was inhabited by the Moors that were driven out of Baezza by the Christians. The second is called Alcazebe; and the third Alhambra. This last is separated from the oth
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NO. XXXVIII.—GNIDOS.
NO. XXXVIII.—GNIDOS.
This was a maritime city of Asia Minor, founded by the Dorians, and much known on account of a victory, which Conon gained over the Lacedemonians. Conon was an Athenian, having the command of the Persian fleet; Pisander, brother-in-law of Agesilaus, of the Lacedemonian. Conon's fleet consisted of ninety galleys; that of Pisander something less. They came in view of each other near Gnidos. Conon took fifty of the enemy's ships. The allies of the Spartans fled, and their chief admiral died fightin
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NO. XXXIX.—HELIOPOLIS.
NO. XXXIX.—HELIOPOLIS.
This city was situated in that part of Egypt which is called the Delta. It was named Heliopolis, city of the sun, from the circumstance of there being a temple dedicated to the sun there; and here, according to historians, originated the tale in respect to the phœnix. At this place, Cambyses, king of Persia, committed a very great extravagance; for he burned its temple, demolished all the palaces, and destroyed most of the monuments of antiquity that were then in it. Some obelisks, however, esca
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NO. XL.—HERCULANEUM.
NO. XL.—HERCULANEUM.
"It is characteristic of the noblest natures and the finest imaginations," says an elegant writer [262] , "to love to explore the vestiges of antiquity, and to dwell in times that are no more. The first is the domain of the imaginative affections alone; we can carry none of our baser passions with us thither. The antiquary is often spoken of as being of a peculiar construction of intellect, which makes him think and feel differently from other people. But, in truth, the spirit of antiquarianism
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NO. XXXVIII.—HIERAPOLIS.
NO. XXXVIII.—HIERAPOLIS.
This was a town in Syria, near the Euphrates, deriving its name from the number of its temples [283] . It abounded in hot springs; and those gave origin to the following fable: "The shepherd poet relates, after mentioning a case in Phrygia, sacred to the nymphs, that near these springs Luna had once descended from the sky to Endymion, while he was sleeping by the herds; that marks of their bed were then extant under the oaks; and in the thickets around it the milk of cows had been spilt, which m
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NO. XLII.—ISFAHAN.
NO. XLII.—ISFAHAN.
" In the territory of Istakhar is a great building, with statues carved in stone; and there, also, are inscriptions and paintings. It was said that this was a temple of Solomon, to whom be peace! and that it was built by the Dives, or Demons: similar edifices are in Syria, and Baalbeck, and in Egypt. "— Ebn Hawkel; Ouseley. The origin of Isfahan is not to be traced with any certainty. It is, however, for the most part, supposed to have arisen from the ruins of Hecatompylos, [285] the capital of
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NO. XLIII.—ITALICA.
NO. XLIII.—ITALICA.
This city (in Spain) is supposed to have been founded by the Phœnicians, who give it the name of Hispalis. It was afterwards colonized by the wounded soldiers of Scipio. It was then called Julia, and at last, after a variety of corruptions, Sebilla or Sevilla, la Viega. The Romans embellished it with many magnificent edifices, but of which scarcely any vestige now remains. In regard to the new city, the Gothic kings for some time made it their residence; but it was taken by storm soon after the
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NO. XLIV.—JERUSALEM.
NO. XLIV.—JERUSALEM.
"How doth the city solitary sit, she that was full of people! How is she become a widow, that was great among the nations! Princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary! She weepeth sore in the night, and her tear is upon her cheek: She hath none to comfort her, among all her lovers: All her friends have betrayed her, they became her enemies." Lamen. i. 1, 2. "In the whole universe," says Mr. Eustace, "there were only two cities interesting alike to every member of the great Christia
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NO. XLV.—LACEDÆMON, OR SPARTA.
NO. XLV.—LACEDÆMON, OR SPARTA.
Leliæ, the first king of Laconia, began his reign about 1516 years before the Christian era. Tyndarus [336] , the ninth king of Lacedæmon, had, by Leda, Castor and Pollux, who were twins, besides Helena, and Clytemnestra, the wife of Agamemnon, king of Mycenæ. Having survived his son, he began to think of choosing a successor, by looking out for a husband for his daughter Helena. All the pretenders to this princess bound themselves by oath, to abide by, and entirely submit to, the choice which t
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NO. XLVI.—LAODICEA.
NO. XLVI.—LAODICEA.
This city was long an inconsiderable place; but it increased towards the age of Augustus. The fertility of the soil, and the good fortune of some of its citizens, raised it to greatness. Several persons bequeathed large sums to it; amongst whom may be particularly mentioned, Hiero, Zeno the rhetorician, and Polemo his son. The first bequeathed it no less than 2000 talents. In ancient times Laodicea collected a very considerable revenue from its flocks of sheep, celebrated for the fineness of the
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NO. XLVII.—LEUCTRA.
NO. XLVII.—LEUCTRA.
This city (in Bœotia) is famous for having been the scene of a great battle between the Thebans and the Lacedæmonians, July 8, B. C. 371. The two armies were very unequal in number [339] . That of the Lacedæmonians consisted of twenty-four thousand foot, and sixteen hundred horse. The Thebans had only six thousand foot, and four hundred horse; but all of them choice troops, animated by their experience of the war, and determined to conquer or die. The Lacedæmonian cavalry, composed of men picked
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NO. XLVIII.—MAGNESIA.
NO. XLVIII.—MAGNESIA.
This city, situate on the Mæander, about fifteen miles S. E. of Ephesus, was founded by a colony from Magnesia in Thrace, united with the Cretans. It was one of the cities given to Themistocles by the king of Persia. The Turks call it "Guzel-Hisar," or the beautiful castle. A great battle was fought here between the Romans and Antiochus, king of Syria. The forces of the former consisted of thirty thousand men; those of Antiochus to seventy thousand foot and twelve thousand horse. The Syrians los
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XLIX.—MANTINEA.
XLIX.—MANTINEA.
A city of the Peloponnesus, well known for a famous battle fought near it between the Lacedæmonians and Thebans. The Greeks had never fought among themselves with more numerous armies. The Lacedæmonians consisted of twenty thousand foot, and two thousand horse; the Thebans of thirty thousand foot, and three thousand horse. The Theban general, Epaminondas, marched in the same order of battle in which he intended to fight, that he might not be obliged, when he came up with the enemy, to lose, in t
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NO. L.—MARATHON.
NO. L.—MARATHON.
Marathon, which was originally one of the four cities, founded by an Attic king, who gave it his name, is now little better than a village. The plain in which it is situated is, says Mr. Dodwell, "one of the prettiest spots in Attica, and is enriched with many kinds of fruit-trees: particularly walnuts, figs, pomegranates, pears, and cherries. On our arrival, the fine country girls, with attractive looks and smiling faces, brought us baskets of fruit. Some of them appeared unwilling to accept ou
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NO. LI.—MEGALOPOLIS.
NO. LI.—MEGALOPOLIS.
This city, situated in Arcadia, had one of the most illustrious persons of ancient times for its founder, Epaminondas. Its population was collected from various small cities and towns of Arcadia. Soon after its establishment, the inhabitants sent to Plato for a code of laws. The philosopher was much pleased with so flattering an offer; but he ultimately declined sending them one, because he learned from a disciple, whom he had sent to Megalopolis, that the inhabitants would never consent to an e
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NO. LII.—MEGARA.
NO. LII.—MEGARA.
Megara, a city of Achaia, formerly possessed such a multitude of objects for a stranger to see, that Pausanias, in his description of Greece, occupies no less than six chapters in the mere enumeration of them. Megara was founded 1131 B. C. It is situate at an equal distance from Athens and Corinth, and is built on two rocks. Its founder has been variously stated. Some have insisted that it was called after Megareus, the son of Apollo; some after Megarius, a Bœotian chief; and others after Megara
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NO. LIII.—MEMPHIS.
NO. LIII.—MEMPHIS.
There are said to be in Upper Egypt thirty-four temples, still in existence, and five palaces. The most ancient have been constructed chiefly of sand-stone, and a few with calcareous stone. Granite was only used in obelisks and colossal statues. After the seat of empire was removed to Memphis, granite was made use of. Memphis, according to Herodotus, was built (eight generations after Thebes) by Menes; but Diodorus attributes its origin to Uchoreus, one of the successors of Osymandyas, king of T
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NO. I.—MESSENE.
NO. I.—MESSENE.
Pausanias 1 appears to have had great interest in the history of the Messenians; for his history of their wars is more minute and animated than any other part of his narrative. His account of the city gives us a grand idea of what it must once have been; and the present splendid remains produce a conviction of his veracity. The walls of Messene 2 , built of hewn stone, crowned with battlements, and flanked with towers, were stronger and higher than those of Byzantium, Rhodes, and the other citie
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NO. II.—MYCENÆ.
NO. II.—MYCENÆ.
This city was the capital of Agamemnon, who was the commander-in-chief of the assembled Greeks, before the walls of Troy. This event took place, B. C. 1184; and the present ruins are supposed to be the ruins of the city before that event. Perseus translated the seat of his kingdom from Argos to Mycenæ. The kings who reigned at Mycenæ, after Perseus, were Erectryon, Sthenelus, and Eurystheus. The last, after the death of Hercules, declared open war against his descendants, apprehending they might
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NO. III.—MILETUS.
NO. III.—MILETUS.
This celebrated city was the capital of Ionia, situated, in the time of Pausanias, ten stadia from the mouth of the Meander; but that river accumulated its deposit, afterwards, so closely, that the town was removed, in process of time, more than three miles within the land. Of its origin there are two accounts: some ascribing it to a colony from Crete, under the conduct of Miletus; some to Sarpedon; and others to Neleus, the son of Codrus, king of Athens, who died there, and whose tomb was in ex
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NO. IV.—NAUPLIA.
NO. IV.—NAUPLIA.
This town, now called Napoli di Romania, is situated along the foot of the rocky promontory, which projects into the sea, at the head of the gulf of Napoli. Its walls were built by the Venetians. Ancient Nauplia, which is said to have been built by Nauplius, absurdly called the son of Neptune, became the chief naval arsenal of the Argives. Even so early as the time of Pausanias, however, it had become desolate; only a few remains of a temple, and of the walls, then existing. Its modern history i
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NO. V.—NEMEA.
NO. V.—NEMEA.
A town of Argolis, greatly distinguished by the games once celebrated there. These games (called the Nemean games) were originally instituted by the Argives in honour of Archemorus, who died from the bite of a serpent; and, afterwards, renewed in honour of Hercules, who in that neighbourhood is said to have destroyed a lion by squeezing him to death. These games consisted of foot and horse races, and chariot races; boxing, wrestling, and contests of every kind, both gymnastic and equestrian. The
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NO. VI.—NINEVEH.
NO. VI.—NINEVEH.
The Assyrian empire was founded by Ashur, the son of Shem, according to some writers; but according to others, by Nimrod; and to others, by Ninus. Ninus, according to Diodorus Siculus, is to be esteemed the most ancient of the Assyrian kings. Being of a warlike disposition, and ambitious of that glory which results from courage, says he, he armed a considerable number of young men, that were brave and vigorous like himself; trained them up in laborious exercises and hardships, and by that means
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NO. VII.—NUMANTIA.
NO. VII.—NUMANTIA.
This city stood near the river Douro; out of the ruins of which has arisen the town of Soria. According to Strabo, it was the capital of Celtiberia. Strong by nature and art, and by the number of its inhabitants, it was built upon a hill, difficult of access, and on three sides surrounded by mountains. Its extent was, also, so great, that it had within its circuit pasture for cattle. It was unprotected by walls or towers; yet it bravely maintained itself, for a considerable time, against the pow
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NO. VIII.—OLYMPIA.
NO. VIII.—OLYMPIA.
This city, known likewise by the name of Pisa, was situated on the right bank of the Alpheus, at the foot of an eminence called the Mount of Saturn. It is peculiarly worthy of attention; since it was near its walls that the most celebrated games, from the institution of which all occurrences were dated in Greece 38 , were held. For nearly the whole of what follows, in regard to the games, we are indebted to Rollin; ours being an abstract. There were four kinds of games solemnised in Greece. The
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NO. IX.—PUTEOLI.
NO. IX.—PUTEOLI.
A maritime city of Campania, between Baiæ and Naples. It was founded by a colony from Cumæ. It was, in the first instance, called Dicæarchia, (“Just Power 45 ,”) and afterwards Puteoli, from the great number of wells that were in the neighbourhood. It was delightfully situated on a point projecting into the sea, nearly in the centre of the bay of Puzzuoli. It was the sea-port of the inhabitants of Cannæ; and a rendezvous for merchants from Greece, Sicily, and all parts of Italy. The attractions
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NO. X.—PALMYRA. (TADMOR.)
NO. X.—PALMYRA. (TADMOR.)
“As patience is the greatest of friends to the unfortunate, so is time the greatest of friends to the lovers of landscape. It resolves the noblest works of art into the most affecting ornaments of created things. The fall of empires, with which the death of great characters is so immediately associated, possesses a prescriptive title, as it were, to all our sympathy; forming at once a magnificent, yet melancholy spectacle; and awakening in the mind all the grandeur of solitude. Who would not be
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NO. XI.—PATRÆ.
NO. XI.—PATRÆ.
“Night overtook us,” says Mr. Williams, “before we reached Patras, anciently called Patræ. But such a night! the moon was in full splendour; and while we travelled among the mysterious scenes, we were often tempted to pause and ask what could be those shadowy towers, that were perpetually arresting our attention? Nothing could be more pleasing or more romantic, than the winding of our cavalry among the projecting rocks and dismal hollows, when first a gleam of light prevailed, and then a solemn
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NO. XII.—PELLA.
NO. XII.—PELLA.
It was a long time before the Greeks had any regard to Macedonia. The kings, living retired in woods and mountains, it seemed not to be considered as a part of Greece. Pella was the capital of the kings of Macedon. There Philip lived and reigned, and here Alexander was born. After his death the kingdom of Macedon frequently changed masters. Philip Aridæus was succeeded by Cassander, who left three sons. Philip, the eldest, died presently after his father. The other two contended for the crown, w
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NO. XIII.—PERGAMUS.
NO. XIII.—PERGAMUS.
This was a city of Great Mysia, in Asia Minor, the capital of the kingdom of Pergamus, which was founded by a eunuch, named Philatera, who had been a servant to Docima, a commander of the troops of Antigonus. Pergamus was assaulted by Philip, king of Macedon, in his war against Attalus the First, who had taken part with the Romans. All his efforts, however, being unavailing, he turned his rage and fury against the gods; and, not satisfied with burning their temples, he demolished statues, broke
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NO. XV.—PETRA (WADY MOUSA).
NO. XV.—PETRA (WADY MOUSA).
The whole land of Idumea, now a mountainous rocky desert, was vaguely known to be full of remains of ancient grandeur and magnificence; but the country is inhabited by fierce and intractable tribes of Arabs, who seem to have inherited the spirit of their forefathers, and to proclaim to approaching travellers, as the Edomites did to the children of Israel—“Thou shall not pass.” “The evidence,” says Mons. De la Borde, “collected by Volney distinctly shows, that the Idumeans were a populous and pow
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NO. XVI.—PHIGALIA.
NO. XVI.—PHIGALIA.
This was a town of Arcadia, called after Phigalus. Bacchus and Diana had each a temple there, and the public places were adorned with the statues of illustrious natives. “In the forum,” says Anacharsis, “is a statue which might serve for the history of the arts. The feet are almost joined, and the pendant hands are fastened close to the sides and thighs; for in this manner were statues formerly sculptured in Greece, and thus they are still in Egypt. It was erected for the athlete Arrhacion, who
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NO. XVII.—PLATÆA.
NO. XVII.—PLATÆA.
This city has long been famous; for it was in a plain near to it that was fought the celebrated battle between the Greeks and Persians 98 . On the evening previous to the engagement, the Grecians held a council of war, in which it was resolved, that they should decamp from the place they were in, and march to another more conveniently situated for water. Night being come on, and the officers endeavouring at the head of their corps to make more haste than ordinary to the camp marked out for them,
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NO. XVIII.—PÆSTUM.[101]
NO. XVIII.—PÆSTUM.[101]
When the president Dupaty first beheld Pæstum, he expressed his admiration in the following manner:—“No; I am not at Pæstum, in a city of the Sybarites! Never did the Sybarites choose for their habitation so horrible a desert; never did they build a city in the midst of weeds, on a parched soil, on a spot where the little water to be met with is stagnant and dirty. Lead me to one of those groves of roses, which still bloom in the poetry of Virgil. 102 Show me some baths of alabaster; some palace
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NO. XIX.—POMPEII.
NO. XIX.—POMPEII.
This city is said to have been built by Hercules; and so called, because the hero there exhibited a long procession (Pompa) of the captives, he had taken in Spain, and the head of Geryon, which he had obtained by conquest. The Oscans, Cumæans, Etruscans, and Samnites, seem to have been successive possessors of the district in which the city stood. Although evidently of Grecian origin, nothing certain is known of its early history. With many other cities, it underwent various reverses during the
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NO. XX.—RAMA.
NO. XX.—RAMA.
Rama is supposed to have been built with materials, furnished by the ruins of Lydda, three miles distant; and it is the spot in which our titular saint, St. George, is said to have suffered martyrdom; although, according to most authors, his remains repose in a magnificent temple at Lydda. Notwithstanding the present desolate condition of Rama, it was, when the army of the Crusaders arrived, a magnificent city, filled with wealth, and abundance of all the luxuries of the East. It was exceedingly
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NO. XXI.—ROME.
NO. XXI.—ROME.
As the plan of this work does not admit of our giving any thing like a history of the various trials and fortunes of Rome; we must confine ourselves, almost entirely, to a few particulars relative to its origin, summit of glory and empire, its decay, and ultimate ruin. There is no unquestionable narrative of facts, on which any writer can build the primitive history of this vast city and empire; but in its place we have a mass of popular traditions and fabulous records. On the taking of Troy, Æn
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NO. XXII.—SAGUNTUM.
NO. XXII.—SAGUNTUM.
Proud and cruel nation! every thing must be yours, and at your disposal! You are to prescribe to us with whom we shall make war; with whom we shall make peace! You are to set bounds; to shut us up between hills and rivers: but you—you are not to observe the limits which yourselves have fixed. Pass not the Iberus. What next? Touch not the Saguntines. Saguntum is upon the Iberus; move not a step towards that city. HANNIBAL’S SPEECH TO HIS SOLDIERS. Saguntum was a celebrated city of Hispania Taraco
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NO. XXIII.—SAIS.
NO. XXIII.—SAIS.
Sais stands on the eastern side of the Nile, near the place where a canal, passing across the Delta, joins the Pelusiac with the Canopic branch of the Nile. It was the metropolis of Lower Egypt; and its inhabitants were, originally, an Athenian colony. At this place there was a temple dedicated to Minerva, who is supposed to be the same as Isis, with the following inscription:—“I am whatever hath been, and is, and shall be; no mortal hath yet pierced through the veil that shrouds me.” In this ci
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NO. XXIV.—SAMARIA.
NO. XXIV.—SAMARIA.
Samaria is never called in Scripture Sebast, though strangers know it only by that name. Obadiah is supposed to have been buried in this city; and here, at one time, were shown the tombs of Elisha, and of John the Baptist; and many ancient coins of this town are still preserved in the cabinets of the curious. Samaria, during a siege, was afflicted with a great famine; and a very extraordinary occurrence is related with respect to it 202 . “24. And it came to pass after this, that Benhadad king o
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NO. XXV.—SAPPHURA.
NO. XXV.—SAPPHURA.
This village was once the chief city and bulwark of Galilee. Its inhabitants often revolted against the Romans; but few remains of its ancient greatness now exist. There are, however, ruins of a stately Gothic edifice, which some travellers esteem one of the finest structures in the Holy Land. “We entered,” says Dr. Clarke, “beneath lofty massive arches of stone. The roof of the building was of the same materials. The arches are placed in the intersection of a Greek cross, and originally support
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NO. XXVI.—SARDIS.
NO. XXVI.—SARDIS.
Sardis is thus alluded to in the Apocalypse 206 :— “1. And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write:—These things saith he that hath the seven spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name, that thou livest, and art dead. “2. Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die; for I have not found thy works perfect before God. “3. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast and repent. If therefore thou shalt not wa
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NO. XXVII.—SELEUCIA.
NO. XXVII.—SELEUCIA.
There were no less than thirteen cities, which were called Seleucia, and which received their name from Seleucus Nicanor. These were situated in Syria, in Cilicia, and near the Euphrates. “It must be acknowledged,” says Dr. Prideaux, “that there is mention made of Babylon, as of a city standing long after the time I have placed its dissolution, as in Lucan 210 , Philostratus 211 , and others. But in all those authors, and wherever also we find Babylon mentioned as a city in being, after the time
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NO. XXVIII.—SELINUS, OR SELINUNTUM.
NO. XXVIII.—SELINUS, OR SELINUNTUM.
This city was founded A. U. C. 127, by a colony from Megara. It received its name from a Greek word meaning parsley, which grew there in great profusion; and its ancient consequence may be learned from the ruins now remaining. It was destroyed by Hannibal. The conduct of the war having been committed to that general, he set sail with a very large fleet and army. He landed at a place called the Well of Lilybæum, which gave its name to a city afterwards built on the same spot. His first enterprise
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NO. XXIX.—SICYON.
NO. XXIX.—SICYON.
The most ancient kingdom of Greece was that of Sicyon, the beginning of which is placed by Eusebius 1313 years before the first Olympiad. Its duration is believed to have been about a thousand years; during which period it is said to have had a succession of kings, whose reigns were so equitable that nothing of importance is recorded of them. It sent, however, 3000 troops to the battle of Platea, and fifteen ships to that of Salamis. It is now only a village. Of these monarchs the most remarkabl
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NO. XXX.—SIDON.
NO. XXX.—SIDON.
Phœnicia comprised Sidon, Tyre, Ptolemais, and Berytus. Its mountains were Libanus and Anti-Libanus. Its most ancient city was Sidon; which was an opulent city even at so early a period as that in which the Greeks are said to have lived upon acorns. It is situated on the shores of the Mediterranean, at a distance of about twenty miles from Tyre, and fifty from Damascus. Sidon is supposed to have been built by Canaan’s first-born, whose name was Sidon 225 . It is, therefore, celebrated as the mos
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NO. XXXI.—SMYRNA.
NO. XXXI.—SMYRNA.
The true origin of Smyrna is rather doubtful. One account is, that such of the Achaians as were descended from Æolus, and had hitherto inhabited Laconia, being driven thence by the Dorians, after some wandering, settled in that part of Asia Minor which, from them, was called Æolis; where they founded twelve cities, one of which was Smyrna. According to Herodotus, however, it owed its foundation to the Curmæans, who were of Thessalian extraction; who, having built the city of Cuma, and finding it
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NO. XXXII.—SPALATRO.
NO. XXXII.—SPALATRO.
When Diocletian selected a spot for his retirement, he solicitously observed, that his palace should command every beauty that the country afforded. In this retirement he began to live, to see the beauty of the sun, and to enjoy, as Vopiscus relates, true happiness in the society of those he had known in his youth 241 . His palace was situated at Spalatro, in Dalmatia. While residing at this place, Diocletian made a very remarkable and strictly true confession:—“Four or five persons,” said he, “
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NO. XXXIII.—STRATONICE.
NO. XXXIII.—STRATONICE.
This was a town in Caria, where a Macedonian colony took up their abode; and which several Syrian monarchs afterwards adorned and beautified. It was named after the wife of Antiochus Soter, of whom history gives the following account. “Antiochus was seized with a lingering distemper, of which the physicians were incapable of discovering the cause; for which reason his condition was thought entirely desperate. Erasistratus, the most attentive and skilful of all the physicians, having carefully co
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NO. XXXIV.—SUSA.
NO. XXXIV.—SUSA.
Strabo says that Susa was built by Tithonus or Tithon, the father of Memnon; and this origin is in some degree supported by a passage in Herodotus, wherein that historian calls it “the city of Memnon.” In Scripture it is called “Shushan.” It was an oblong of one hundred and twenty stadia in circuit; situated on the river Cutæus or Uhlai. Susa derived its name from the number of lilies which grew on the banks of the river on which it stood. It was sheltered by a high ridge of mountains on the nor
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NO. XXXV.—SYBARIS.
NO. XXXV.—SYBARIS.
Sybaris was a town of Lucania, situated on the banks of the Bay of Tarentum. It was founded by a colony of Achaians; and in process of time became very powerful. The walls of this city extend six miles and a half in circumference, and the suburbs covered the banks of the Crathis for seven miles. Historians and orators, of all ages, have been guilty of praising heroes. “For my own part,” says Mr. Swinburne, “I cannot help feeling pity for the hard fate of the Sybarites, to whom we are indebted fo
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NO. XXXVI.—SYENE.
NO. XXXVI.—SYENE.
This was a town in the Thebais, nearly under the tropic of Cancer; greatly celebrated for the first attempt to ascertain the measure of the circumference of the earth by Eratosthenes, who, about the year 276 A. C. , was invited from Athens to Alexandria, by Ptolemy Evergetes. Juvenal, the poet, was banished there, on the pretence of commanding a cohort, stationed in the neighbourhood. Its principal antiquities are a small temple, supposed to be the remains of Eratosthenes’ observatory, the remai
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NO. XXXVII.—SYRACUSE.
NO. XXXVII.—SYRACUSE.
“ The fame of states, now no longer existing, lives,” says Mr. Swinburne, “in books or tradition; and we reverence their memory in proportion to the wisdom of their laws, the private virtues of their citizens, the policy and courage with which they defended their own dominions, or advanced their victorious standards into those of their enemies. Some nations have rendered their names illustrious, though their virtues and valour had but a very confined sphere to move in; while other commonwealths
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NO. XXXVIII.—THEBES.
NO. XXXVIII.—THEBES.
The glory of Thebes belongs to a period, prior to the commencement of authentic history. It is recorded only by the divine light of poetry and tradition, which might be suspected as fable, did not such mighty witnesses remain to attest the truth. A curious calculation, made from the rate of increase of deposition by the Nile, corroborated by other evidence, shows however that this city must have been founded four thousand seven hundred and sixty years ago, or two thousand nine hundred and thirty
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NO. XXXIX.—TROJA, AND OTHER CITIES OF THE TROAS.
NO. XXXIX.—TROJA, AND OTHER CITIES OF THE TROAS.
“ It has been asserted,” says Sir William Gell, “and confidently maintained, that there does not exist the smallest vestige of the ancient city of Priam; and it is not the only capital concerning which the same erroneous idea has prevailed. The ‘etiam periere ruinæ’ of Virgil 282 seems to have been the foundation of this opinion; and it is not wonderful, that it should maintain its ground until the truth was investigated, when we recollect that the ignorance of travellers for a long time counten
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NO. XL.—TYRE.
NO. XL.—TYRE.
Tyre is, in Scripture, called “the daughter of Sidon,” and very appropriately; for the Tyrians were, in the first instance, a colony from Sidon. It was built two hundred and forty years before the building of Jerusalem. The king of Tyre assisted Solomon in procuring wood for his temple, and artisans wherewith to build it. Thus it is stated, in the Book of Chronicles:— “3. And Solomon sent to Huram, the king of Tyre, saying, As thou didst deal with David my father, and didst send him cedars to bu
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NO. XLI.—VEII
NO. XLI.—VEII
The memory of Veii 306 was almost obliterated in the time of Florus. The flock had fed in the streets, and the ploughshare had furrowed the sepulchres of the Veientes 307 . The history of Veii is too imperfect, to throw any light, prior to the existence of Rome. We are only informed, that Morrius, king of Veii, was descended, by Halæsius, from Neptune; and that there was a king Veius, a king Menalus, and lastly, in the time of Camillus, an elected king named Tolemarius. Veii was a powerful city
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