53G SCULPTURE AND ARCHITECTURE OP ATHENS. 



Near (he Parthenon arc three temples, so connected by their 

 structure, and by the rites which were celebrated in them, that 

 they might be almost considered as a treple temple. They are of 

 small dimensions, and of the Ionic order : one of them dedicated 

 to Neptune and Erecteus ; the second to Minerva Polias, the pro. 

 tectress of citadels ; the third to the nymph Pandrosos. It was on 

 the spot where these temples stand, that Minerva and Neptune 

 were said to have contended for the honour of naming the city. 

 Athenian superstition long shewed the mark of Neptune's trident, 

 and a briny fountain, which attested his having there opened a pas- 

 sage for his horse ; and the original olive tree produced by Minerva 

 was venerated in the temple of Pandrosos, as late as the time of 

 the Antonines. 



This temple of Minerva Polias is of the uiost delicate and elc. 

 gant proportions of the Ionic order : the capitals and bases of the 

 columns are ornamented with consummate taste ; and the sculpture 

 of the frize and cornice is exquisitely rich. It is difficult to con- 

 ceive how marble has been wrought to such a depth, and brought 

 to so sharp an edge : the palmetti, ovetti, &c. have all the delicacy 

 of works in metal. The vestibule of the temple of Neptune, is of 

 more masculine proportions ; but its Ionic capitals have great 

 merit. This beautiful vestibule is now used as a powder maga- 

 zine ; and no other access to it could be had but by creeping 

 through an opening in a wall which had been recently built between 

 the columns. Lord Elgin was enabled to keep it open during his 

 operations within ; but it was then closed, so that future travellers 

 Hill be prevented from seeing the inner door of the temple, which 

 i-, perhaps, the most perfect specimen in eiistence of Ionic archi. 

 t <ecture. Both these temples have been measured ; and their plans, 

 < levations and views, made with the utmost accuracy. All the 

 rrnaments have been moulded; some original blocks of the frize 

 mid cornice have been obtained from the ruins, as well as a capital 

 > ud abase. 



The little adjoining chapel of Pandrosos is a most singular speci. 

 men of Athenian architecture : instead of Ionic columns to sup* 

 port the architrave, it had seven statues of Caryan women, or Ca. 

 I'ies. The Athenians endeavoured, by this device, to perpe. 

 tuate the infancy of the inhabitants of Carya, who were the only 

 1 Yloponnesians who sided with Xerxes in his invasion of Greece. 

 The men had been reduced to the deplorable itate of Hejotes ; 



