459 
Tue most celebrated éountry ofantiquity, was of v 
inconsiderable extent, and scarcely equalled in size the 
rehended between 36° and 
us of Thermopyla. The tract extending from 
the “et tan of Thessaly and Epirus to the Corinthian 
isthmus, contains the provinces of Acarnania, on the 
‘east frontier of which runs the river Achelous ; 7to- 
lia, bounded on the south by the sea, but defended on 
every other side by mountains almost impassable; Do- 
is, wholly a mountainous cou ; Locris and Phocis, 
beth of small extent, but full of fertile plains ; Beeotia, 
a well-watered vale, bounded, except on the north-east, 
by the mountains Parnassus, Helicon, Citheron, and 
Parnes; and Attica, a rocky and barren country, pro- 
ducing little grain or pasture, but yielding a variety of 
fruits, particularly figs and olives. The isthmus of Co- 
rinth, a mountainous ridge, at one place five miles 
in breadth, leads farther south tothe peninsula of Pelo- 
O ; which contains Achaia, a narrow strip of 
country on the northern coast, bounded on its inland 
frontier by a ridge of mountains, running along its 
whole extent from Corinth to Dyme; Argolis, a re- 
markably fruitful valley, included between two moun- 
tainous branches, stretching from Cyllene, the most 
northern of the Arcadian summits, and terminating, the 
one in the gulf of Argos, and the other at the promon- 
tory of a; Elis, or Eleia, watered by the rivers 
Peneus and Alpheus, and less mountainous than the 
other provinces in Peloponnesus ; Arcadia, the central 
state, consisting of a cluster of lofty mountains, the prin- 
of which are Taygetus and Zarex ; Messenia, the 
most level district in the peninsula, the best adapted 
for tillage, and most fruitful in general produce ; and. 
Laconia, traversed by two branches of the Taygetus 
and Zarex, detween which runs the river Eurotas, wa- 
tering several very fertile but not extensive vales. 
” The general aspect of Greece is rugged, but its cli- 
mate is highly propitious ; and both the summer heat 
and winter cold are preserved by the surrounding seas 
in an equable state of temperature. Some of its moun- 
tains contain valuable metals; others are composed of 
the st marble ; and many are covered to a t ex- 
tent with a’ variety of useful timber. Its central plains 
produce corn, oil, and wine ; its valleys afford the rich- 
est pasturage ; and its long winding coast abounds with 
xceent harbours. The great variety in its surface 
gives occasion to considerable diversity both of produce 
and of climate in every season of the year. It has been 
remarked, as a liar feature in the topography of 
the most ancient cities of Greece, that every metropo- 
Tis possessed its citadel and its plain; the former as a 
place of refuge in war, and the latter as a source of agri- 
~ > ad ‘in peace. The most remarkable of its towns 
ere—in Firessaty, Gomphi, Metropolis, and Scotus- 
” meme GREECE, 
sa, north of the river Penetus; Atrax, Larissa, 
of Achilles; M. 
gonauts ; Hi ea, named from Hercules, who is said 
to have thrown himself into the pile on the summit of 
Oeta, in its vicinity ; Lamea and Hypata, on the banks 
of the Spercheus ; Thaumaci, Halos, and Pthia, the 
country of the Myrmidones, Demetrias, Phere, Phar- 
salia, on the banks of the river Enipeus.—In Acanwa- 
n1a, Amphilochicum, Stratus, and Actium, at the bot- 
tom of Ambracian Gulf—In A£roxia, Chalydon, 
Chalcis, on the river Evenus; Therma, Lysmachia, 
Canope, Naupactus, Erythre, and Antirrhium.—In 
Donrts, Cytinium, and three smaller towns of little note. 
—In Locris, Amphissa, Opus, Cnemis, Narix, the na- 
tive country of Ajax, Thronium, Nicwa.—In Puocis, 
Delphi, accounted the centre of Greece ; Elatea, on the 
river Cephissus; Crissa, and Anticyra—In Baorta, 
Thebes, near the river Asopus ; Platea, Leuctra, Or- 
chomenos, Haliartus, Coronea, Cheronea, Lebadia, 
Thespiz ; Ascra, the birth-place of Hesiod ; Aulis, De- 
lium, and Tan —In Arrica, Athens, with its har- 
bour Pirgzeus; Phalereus and Munichia, Marathon, 
yh ia and Decelia—In Mecants, Megara, Eleusis, 
and Nyceea.—In Acuara, Corinth, Sicyon, Patre, /E« 
ium, Dyme, and Pallene.—In Arcouts, Argos, on the 
river Inachus ; Mycene, the city of Agamemnon ; Epi- 
daurus, Nemea, and Tiryns.—In E is, Elis, on the ri« 
ver Peneus ; Olympia, and Pisa.—In Arcapta, Mego 
lopolis, Tegea, Mantinea, and Pallantium.—In Messe- 
nia, Messene, Stenyclarus, and Pylos, the city of Nes- 
tor.—In Laconta, Sparta, on the river Eurotas; Gy- 
thium, Selasia, Helos, Amycle. 
It has been customary with most writers on the sub- poriods of 
ject of Greece, to distribute its history into distinct pe- Grecian 
~ history. 
riods or epochs ; but few authors happen to agree in 
ing upon the same points of division. If we proceed 
upon the principle of marking the degree of credibility - 
in its records, there will then be only two portions to 
be contrasted ; the one the period of uncertain, and the 
other that of authentic history. 
The first, « the period of uncertain history,” extends 
from the earliest accounts of the country, to the com- 
mencement of the first war with Persia, in the year 
B. C. 490; a period very variously computed, but, ac- 
cording to the lowest estimate, * comprisin, a space of 
nearly 700 years. Of this large rtion of time, there 
are no documents really deserving the name of history ; 
and the accounts which have been given of its events, 
were drawn up by writers who lived long posterior to 
the transactions of which they treat, and were compiled 
from scattered records and fragments, of which there 
are no sufficient data to ascertain the authenticity. Of 
this period, however, there may be specified four dis- 
tinct subdivisions, which are marked by some peculiar 
historical features. The first, reaching from the earliest 
accounts of Greece to the commencement of the Trojan 
war, B. C. 900; a ge of 200 or 300 years, and 
which, without scruple, may be termed “ the fabulous 
age.” The second, reaching from the expedition against 
Troy to the death of Homer, B. C. about 800 ; a period 
of at least 100 years, generally called “ the heroic age,” 
* The Chronology of Sir Isaac Newton. 
r the city Greece. 
esia,and Aphete the port of the Ar- =~” 
