Miscellanies. 193 



into stables, and in endeavoring to raise Athens from her ruins, it threat- 

 ens to put her out of the record, by destroying that which constituted her 

 chief characteristic — her deserted and solitary ruins. This plan has 

 not only failed to attain its chief end, but it has produced consequences 

 of a very mischievous nature to the interest of the Greeks. It brought 

 the metropolis of the nation at a distance of seven miles from the sea, 

 and has thus taken from the Greeks — what they might have had — a 

 commercial metropolis. While the people of other countries are strug- 

 gling for sites favorable to communication, and while the Greeks have 

 such central positions and such ports as those of Corinth and the Pi- 

 raeus, their rulers have brought them among ruins, and have thereby 

 shown their love for deserted sites, to the neglect of commercial and 

 political interests. This state of things is much to be regretted by those 

 who delight in the present progress of the world; and while I won- 

 der at the ill policy of the Greek government, I cannot deny the fact 

 that untimely efforts have produced some good results. Mr. Petakes, 

 the chief antiquary of the king, has been very active, and has suc- 

 ceeded in rescuing many fine works from the rubbish of time and bar- 

 barity. By the enthusiastic efforts of this individual, the ruins of the 

 Acropolis, have assumed a new aspect, and the eye of the visitor now 

 rests upon objects which a few years ago were buried beneath the ground. 

 Nearly two-thirds of the Propylaia have been saved, and the entrance 

 which of late had become a mere name, now presents a truly magnifi- 

 cent ruin. Besides, the beautiful little temple of Victory, without win^s, 

 which was to the right of the Propylaia, and which was entirely under 

 ground, has been discovered, and restored to its just proportions. Many 

 baso-relievos have been found around the different temples, and the mu- 

 seum is already enriched with many exquisite fragmentsof the plastic arts. 

 The efforts of the king's antiquarian, have been seconded by those of 

 the Archaeological Society of Athens, and they are both actuated by hon- 

 orable emulation. The A. S. A. has proved itself very useful and is at 

 present employed in the excavation of the theatre of Bacchus, which as 

 you well know, is situated to the southeast of the Acropolis, and in its best 

 days could accomodate thirty thousand spectators. The seats of this 

 magnificent theatre being cut in the living rock, could not be affected by 

 time, and there is reason to believe that the greater part, if not the whole 

 of them will be laid open to the eyes. It is difficult to predict whether 

 they will find the well known spring of water, but even if they were to 

 fail in this, the clearing of the seats and its vast area will be a sufficient 

 recompense. The cave at the termination of the seats, and half way up 

 the Acropolis is still to be seen, and is singular for the changes it has wit- 

 nessed, and interesting for the associations that cluster around it. It 

 seems to be a joint work of nature and art, and it is difficult to say which 

 of the two has had the greater agency in giving it its present shape. 

 Vol. xxxvx, No. 1.— Jan.-April, 1839. 25 



