ON THE VALE OF TEMPE. 



535 



I am further confirmed in this opinion on the origin of Tempe, 

 by the marks of similar revolutions, which I observed in other 

 mountainous districts of Greece. For instance, several of the 

 rivers of Arcadia run through deep and narrow glens, which must 

 have been formed in the same manner. One of these, the Ladon, 

 bursts its way through a vast chasm ; which is reported to be several 

 miles in length, and has the appearance of being inaccessible to a 

 human being.* The Gortynius and the Neda, two other Arcadian 

 rivers, run through glens, the steep and lofty sides of which almost 

 conceal their course from the view of the traveller. But the most 

 remarkable chasm of this description, which occurred to my notice, 

 is that, which is known in Crete by the name of the Pharangi, 

 Quyuyyi (from the old word <t>«pa-j<|). The whole body of a mountain 

 there, appears to have been rent asunder from the top to the bottom ; 

 the two sides of the fissure which form a narrow pass of four miles in 

 length, threatening to close over the head of the adventurous 

 traveller. It was by this formidable defile that I visited Sfackia ; and 

 I still feel the impression which it made upon me.-f 



To recur to the history of Tempe, which has been necessarily in- 

 terrupted by these reflections on its origin. Whatever may have been 

 the motive which induced Xerxes to view in person the defile of 

 Tempe, it does not appear from what Heredotus says, that he had 

 any intention of making use of it for the passage of his army ; and 

 indeed, it would be absurd to suppose this:}:; but the line of his 

 march had been already settled ; he was to cross the mountains into 

 the country of the Perrhasbians, in the direction of the town of 

 Gonnos ; for that, says Herodotus, had been pointed out to him as 

 the best route. On his return from Tempe, Xerxes remained some 



* It is at a short distance above the ruins of Telphusa. 



+ I was above two hours immured in the Pharangi, the ascent being in some places 

 very rapid and much encumbered every where with the fragments of the fallen rock. It 

 is mentioned by Pococke, who passed through it. 



% When the very confined breadth of the road is considered. 



