1841.1 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECTS JOURNAL. 



181 



as to admit of a large statue being there placed at each end,aud which 

 of course becomes strongly relieved by the mass of shadow surround- 

 ing it. This may so far not be Grecian, because there is no direct 

 authority for it, but then it is on that account all the more meritorious, 

 because it is most certainly, both Grecian and classical, in sentiment. 

 Similar in character to the parts just described, but with some varia- 

 tions, owing to their being more extended, are the elevations of the 

 ends of the building, so that the wdiole is in keeping throughout ; which 

 we are sorry to observe is a much greater and rarer merit than it ought 

 to be, — certainly one that has been utterly disregarded by the classical 

 architect of the Post Office. Among other points tliat particularly 

 recommend this design of Mr. L.'s, is that he has kept up or rather 

 enhanced the dignity of the colonnade, in the first place by introducing 

 inner columns in the part serving as a vestibule between the two courts, 

 and in the next by avoiding windows, and making the two doors seen 

 behind the columns very conspicuous and highly ornamental features. 

 There is also much that is equally good and new in the details of the 

 order itself, — in the capitals especially, and likewise in the cornice. 



(To he continued.) 



ENGINEERING WORKS OF THE ANCIENTS, No. 5. 



Thucydides, who wrote about the year 400 B.C., is the next whom 

 we shaU take in our discursive course ; his history however presents 

 few gleanings. 



WALLS OF ATHENS. 



About 481 B.C., the Athenians restored their dismantled walls, and 

 also enclosed the Piraeus.* From political circumstances the works 

 were very much hurried, the foundations were laid with stones of all 

 sorts and sizes, some unwrought, and just as they were brought up by 

 the servers. Many pillars too from sepulchral monuments, and other 

 wrought stones were worked up in the building ; for the boundary wall 

 of the city was now far greater, being in every direction carried out ; 

 and for this reason it was that they urged on the work, employing 

 alike whatever came to hand. It was Themistocles, too, who per- 

 suaded them to build the remaining walls of the Pirsus (for this had 

 been begun by him during the year of the archonship which he filled 

 at Athens), thinking the place highly favourable, as having three na- 

 tural ports, and that as they had become a nautical people, it would 

 mucli contribute to their obtaining naval power. Indeed he first ven- 

 tured to tell them they should apply to the sea, and then immediately 

 assisted them in acquiring the empire of it. By his counsel it was 

 that they built the wall of that thickness about Pirsus : for two wains 

 brought stone, passing by each other upon it, and going contrary ways. 

 Within, there was neither rubble nor clay, but the stones were large 

 and hewn square, fitted together in building; and those on the outside 

 bound together with stone and lead. The height however was only 

 finished to about the half what was designed, for his intention was to 

 eflfectually repel all hostile attacks, both by the thickness and the lofti- 

 ness of the walls, and he thought that thus a few, and those the least 

 effective persons, would be sufficient to man it, and that the rest might 

 embark on board the fleet: for he chiefly devoted bis attention lo the 

 shipping, perceiving, it seems, that there was a readier access for the 

 king's (Persia's) forces against them by sea than by land. For he 

 judged that the Piraus would be more serviceable than the upper city, 

 and often counselled the Athenians that if ever they should be foiled 

 by land, they should descend thereto, and with the navy make head 

 against all opponents. 



Frequent mention is made in other places of walls of defence and 

 offence, but these do not present sufficient general interest to call for 

 particular notice. 



The Athenians, as we shall hereafter have occasion to mention were 

 distinguished as engineers, and particularly skilful in constructions of 

 this kind. On account of the peculiar mode of building, workmen 

 were employed who were skilled in this iron cramping.'!' Thus we find 

 that to the seige of Nisaea were sent iron and stone-masons. 



MINES. 



Although Thucydides was himself a proprietor of mines, we find 

 very few and short notices in his work. In the First Book chapter 

 100, allusion is made to a mine in Thrace, of which mention is made 

 by no other author. In the Second Book, chapter 55, our author re- 

 counts that the Peloponnesians, having devastated the champaign 

 country of Athens, passed into what is called the territory of Paralus, 



' Eouk I, ch. 93. 



T Beck 4, cli. C9. 



as far as Laurium, where were the Athenian silver mines, to which 

 however they appear to have done no injury. The gold mines near 

 Thrace were possessed by Thucydides,* and are supposed by the com- 

 mentators to have been situated at Mount Pangaus, and to have been 

 the same from which Philip, King of Macedon, derived the funds 

 which enabled him to conquer Greece. 



ATHENLVN ENGINEERS. 



The reputation of the Athenians as engineers is attested by Thucy- 

 dides in the following passage.'!' The Lacedemonians as their war 

 against the rebels in Ithome ran out into a length of time, demanded 

 the assistance of the allies, and amongst others of the Athenians. No 

 small number of these were sent to their aid under the command of 

 Cymon. The demand of assistance from them was principally owing 

 to the reputation they then were in for their superior skill in the 

 methods of approaching and attacking walls. 



VALUE OF WROUGHT MATERIALS. 



Another of those circumstances which attest the value of manual 

 labour among the Greeks, we find in the Second Book, in the account 

 of the preparations made by the Athenians for sustaining a siege dur- 

 ing the Peloponnesian war, when they removed into the city not only 

 their moveable property, but even much of the woodwork of their 

 houses. 



CONDUIT AT ATHENS. 



Thucydides (Book Second), mentions at Athens a conduit called the 

 Enneakrounos or Kine Pipe, from the manner in which it was em- 

 bellished by the tyrants, formerly called Callirhoe. 



SIEGES. 



The sieges described in this history do not well come within our 

 sphere, but those who are desirous of ascertaining the resources of 

 Greek military engineering, will do well to refer to them, particularly 

 to the siege ofPlatea. Here we find mining, countermining, raising 

 mounds, walls of circumvallation, &c. 



BRIDGE OVER THE STRYMON. 



In the Eighth Book we find the bridge over the Strymon, mentioned 

 by other authors referred to. 



Persians. 



diverting rivers. 



We find in Thucydides one solitary mention of the Persians, and 

 that with regard to the art in which they excelled, hydraulic engineer- 

 ing. Megabyzus, the son of Zepynis, commanding the Persian forces 

 in Egypt, having driven the Greeks out of Memphis, drove them into 

 the isle of Prosopis, where he shut them up. Here he kept them 

 blocked up for a year and six months ; till having drained the chaimel, 

 by turning the water into a different course ; he stranded all their 

 ships, antl rendered the island almost continent. He then marched his 

 troops across, and took the place by a land assault. 



Diodorus the Sicilian, was the author of a general history called the 

 Historical Library ; he flourished in the first century before the Chris- 

 tian era. The first of our gleanings from the translation of his work 

 by Booth, relates to the Egyptians, who are treated of in the First 

 Book. 



Egyptians. 



honours paid to engineering. 



All writers in Egypt attest the honour in which the Egyptians held 

 the construction of public works, many of tlieir oldest monuments being 

 attributed to the gods. The god Osiris, by some is named as the 

 founder of Thebes, and he made an expedition through the world for 

 the purpose of introducing civilization, during which he built several 

 stately cities, particularly'in Ethiopia and India. In enumerating the 

 merits of the kings, our author says, " And besides all this, were con- 

 querors of many nations, and grew exceeding rich, and their provinces 

 were beautified w ith manv stately magnificent works, and their cities 

 adorned with many rich gifts of all sorts." 



embankment of the NILE. — HERCULES AND OSIRIS ENGINEERS. 



In the time of Osiris, the Nile is reported to have broken its banks, 

 and overflowed the greater part of Egypt. On this occasion the old 

 or Egyptian Hercules, who, says our author, was always for old and 

 difficult enterprises, and ever of a stout spirit, presently made up the 

 breaches, turned the river into its channel, and kept it within its ancient 

 banks ; and therefore some of the Greek poets, from this fact, forged 

 a fable, that Hercules killed the eagle that fed upon the heart of 



' Hook 4, ch. 106. 



Book 1, ch. 11. 



