ISTHMUS OF CORINTH. 



349 



vented by strong batteries or towers at Lepanto. That part of the 

 shore of the Saronic bay, calculated for debarkation, is an extent of 

 three or four miles, bounding the lowest part of the isthmus, be- 

 tween the Scironian rocks, and the mountains eastward of Corinth, 

 a space which with the assistance of art might be easily defended. 

 What has been observed with regard to the defence of the Pelo- 

 ponnesus relates only to an attack from Greece, or to a debarkation 

 on the isthmus. 



Why did the Greeks build a wall across the isthmus, instead of 

 fortifying the gorge in the first barrier in the mountain? It is 

 reasonable to suppose that the last mode of defence was attended to 

 as well as the first, and that an advanced guard would have been 

 stationed to dispute to the last moment this important pass*, this 

 Thermopylae of the Peloponnesus. But though the Greeks would 

 take advantage of the obstacles, nature had offered for their protection 

 against an invasion by land, they would also provide against any 

 force, which the Persians might attempt to debark on the isthmus, in 

 the event of a victory obtained by their naval armaments, over the 

 allied Greeks at Salamis. Those of the Peloponnesus would there- 

 fore immediately draw the line of fortification, particularly mentioned 

 by Herodotus, so placing their defences, as to enclose the harbour of 

 Cenchreae on the Saronic gulf, and at the same time to allow as little 

 space as possible for a debarkation in their rear. 



* The importance of a fortress at Geraneia was not overlooked by the Greeks ; we find 

 mention of the ruypt Ytpdvsict in Scylax Per. i 5. Hudson. But the time of erecting it 

 cannot of course be fixed. 



