512 



ON THE TOPOGRAPHY OF ATHENS, 



h oi ce of some points of communication with the interior of the 

 long walls, besides that which the Pirsean gate afforded. For in- 

 stance, there were two, if not more gates, which opened into the 

 Ceramicus ; and the use of these might have been safely com- 

 bined with that of a gate in the Phaleric wall, which was at a 

 short distance. 



The periphery of the city walls, according to the above supposition, 

 could not much have exceeded the measure given by Thucydides, 

 which is fortv-three stadia* ; and if we take that of the distance 

 between Athens and the Piraeus, as a scale for computing the length 

 of the stadium here made use of, it would appear that there were 

 about ten of these to a geographic mile. On applying this scale of 

 measurement to the traces of the old walls of the city, as they are 

 represented in Fauvel's plan, we shall find them not to exceed 30 

 stadia in circumference. 



I have already observed, that no reliance is to be placed on what 

 are called the vestiges of the ancient walls, with the exception of 

 such as are perceivable on the Museum hill and near Pnyx ; for 

 these, besides something of a regular plan and connection, have 

 historical evidence in favour of their antiquity. And although the 

 very near approach of these walls to the entrance of the Acropolis 

 might justly excite some suspicion of the validity of their claims, yet 

 it will be recollected that this was a most vital point in the general 

 system of defence, and that Themistocles has probably adapted the 

 plan of the walls on this side to the natural strength of the position. 

 In like manner, it is evident that the bed of the Ilissus must have 

 set some inconvenient limits to the extension of the walls on the 

 southern side of the Acropolis ; so that the fountain of Enneacrunos, 

 which was probably not within, although immediately under the 

 protection of the walls, may be regarded as the farthest point to 

 which they advanced in that direction. And thus, after admitting as 



* It is remarkable, that Dicaearchus, in his Metrical Fragment, gives the same measure 

 to the walls of Thebes. 



