ATHENS. 321 
it is said, admired in the assembly of the Gods CHAP. 
for their wisdom and excellence." Some of the 
columns still support their architraves ; one of 
which, being measured while we were in Athens, 
was found to equal three feet in width; and, 
although of one entire piece of marble, it 
extended, in length, twenty- two feet six inches 8 . 
Upon the top of the entablature, on the western 
side of the principal groupe, is shewn the 
dwelling of a hermit, who fixed his solitary 
abode upon this eminence, and dedicated his 
life entirely to the contemplation of the sublime 
objects by which his mansion was everywhere 
surrounded. Seventeen of these pillars were 
standing in 1676: but a few years before 
Chandler arrived in Athens, one was thrown 
down, for the purpose of building a new 
mosque in the market-place. Such instances 
of dilapidation on the part of the Turks are, 
(6) What the feelings of the AUienians must have been upon the 
restoration of this temple, may, in some degree, be collected from 
the following observations of Plutarch, and of Dicaarchus, concerning 
the edifice in its imperfect state, 'fif <yap n ** rSr 'Afa<ti'a> <ri 
'OXiiitufrs/ov, o'urvt * nXarw>; ffeQict ' ' \<r\.airi*n It a-oXXoTs xa.\o~s ftivei 
t<yet drsXsf tf^ttxtt. (Plutarch, extremo Solone.) Dicaarchus seems to 
have had a foresight of its future splendour. He says : 'OXiJ^avar, 
ip.irti.ls /t*s) xaraa-Xn'iv 2* t%e> rw **( olxobepriffitts uftyyi.^i' yfiop.iv a* 3" at 
,i*.n<rrn, El 2TNETEAE20H. Dicecarch. Descript. Greec. ap. Mews 
J)e Alhenis Attlcis, lib. i. c. 10. 
VOL. VI. Y 
