ATHENS, 
their nature, may be easily imagined; and if, 
instead of having 1 ransacked the quarries of 
Pentelicus for its garniture, some more precious 
material had been used, the superficial invest- 
ment, in so vast a theatre, would not materially 
have altered its general appearance. The 
remains of Stadia still exist in different parts of 
Greece ; but this of Athens surpasses, as in the 
days of its splendour, every other in the world. 
Its form is so perfect, that the spectator tra- 
versing the arena between its sloping sides* 
toward the Coilon at its south-eastern extremity, 
almost imagines himself to be transported to the 
age in which it was prepared for the reception of 
its innumerable guests : and when seated in the 
higher part of it, where people from all Attica, 
ranged by thousands, beheld a still gathering 
multitude, thronging eagerly toward the spot; 
every countenance being animated by the 
greatness of the solemnity, and every heart 
beating with the most impatient expectation; 
how affecting is the scene before him ! Nothing 
is wanted to render it more impressive, but the 
actual presence of the pomp itself the noise of 
the chariots the prancing and the neighing of the 
horses the sounds of the music the exhibition 
of the combatants and the shouts of the people. 
Even the passages, through which ferocious 
