688 



GREECE. 



" ■-- .1 c 

 Mount Parnassus. 



continental pan is bounded N. by Turkey, E. by tbe Archipelago.^ S. and V/. by the Mediter- 

 ranean or Ionian Sea. The northern boundary being a winding line drawn from the Gulf of 

 Volo on the E. to the Gulf of Arta on the W. It extends from 36° 22' to 39° 20' N. lati- 

 tude. The territory, including the islands, contains about 18,000 square miles. 



2. Mountains. North of the isthmus is JMount Parnassus or Liakoura, consisting of a 



ridge running northwest and southeast. The 

 @v name is more strictly applied to one of the 



> ~ eminences near the village of Delphi. The 



summit consists of limestone with veins of 

 marble containing unbedded sea shells. Il 

 is bleak, and almost destitute of herbage ; its 

 height is about 5,700 feet. To the south- 

 east of Parnassus is the ridge of Helicon 

 separated from it by the plain of Livadia 

 Its form is remarkably picturesque and 

 graceful. It is lofty and steep, but its gran- 

 deur is softened to the eye by the figure of 

 the cliffs and intervening hollows, by the 

 woods which still cover them as in ancient 

 times, and by the beautiful slopes connecting 

 them with the subjacent plains. The Morea 

 has numerous mountain ridges, the highest 

 of which is Zeria or Trikala., the ancient 

 Cyllene ; it surrounds the famous lake 

 _- Stymphale, the scene of one of the ex- 

 ploits of Hercules. In Arcadia are the 

 /! mountains o{ Lycccus and JMenaltis^ upon 

 ': which Apollo mourned the loss of Daph- 

 - nis. They are covered with magnifi- 

 j cent trees, and with oaks of an extraordi- 

 nary height. Mount Taygetus is a lofty 

 ridge extending to the south, and termi- 

 nating at Cape Matapan, the southern ex- 

 tremity of Greece. Another range of 

 heights occupy the ancient territory of 

 Argolis. Mount Gcranion runs across 

 the isthmus of Corinth. These moun- 

 tains are everywhere traversed by narrow 

 defiles impassable to artillery or cavalry. 

 The valleys are immense basins surrounded by the mountains, and exhibiting the appearance 

 of a great number of distinct craters, each containing a spacious level. 



3. Rivers. The ..ispropotamos, or ancient Jlchelous., flows into the Ionian Sea. The Ce- 

 phissus runs into the Lake of Livadia. The Jllpheus and Eurotas are the chief rivers of the 

 Morea. All these are small streams. 



4. Islands. J\^egropont., the ancient Euhcea^ is a narrow island 100 miles in length, separated 

 from the mainland of fireece by the Euripus, a strait so narrow, that it is crossed by a draw- 

 bridge. The tides in this strait are subject to a remarkable irregularity, which has never been 

 explained. The island contains 50,000 inhabitants, and has several good harbors. It abounds 

 in corn and vineyards, and maintains numerous flocks of sheep. The honey produced here is 

 delicious, and owes its fine quality to the abundance of roses on the island. Marble and asbes- 

 tos are found here. JS^egropont or Egripo^ the capital, stands on the western shore of the island, 

 where the bridge connects it with the continent. It is well fortified. Population, 10,000. 



Hydra is the most important of the islands, although one of the smallest. It lies close to 

 the eastern coast of the Morea, and is little more than a barren rock. It does not appear to 

 have been inhabited in ancient times, but is now the most important naval station in Greece, and 

 its fleets gained many victories over the Turks during the revolution. The town of Hydra 

 stands on the northwestern side of the island, and has a good harbor. Its white houses rising 

 in ranges from the water up the side of a rocky hill, make a very pictin-esque appearance. The 



Mount Helicon. 



