ATHENS. 
is to say, it is the sixth in the series towards 
Phalerum. The Acropolis of Athens stands upon 
the fifth, or the last but one, towards the sea. The 
fourth is the lofty rock called Mount Anchesmusi 
and this rock, by some convulsion of Nature, has 
been separated into two parts : farther towards 
the east are three other, carrying on the series 
towards Pentelicus. On the northern side of the 
city is a range of olive plantations: between 
these and Hymettus, in the plain, occurs the 
chain of rocks, extending east and west: the 
south side of the plain, nearer to the base of 
Hymettus, wears a barren aspect ! , broken by 
(l) " On the road from Marathon to the Monastery on Pcntt/icus, 
and on that from Keratia hack to Athens, we passed some spots which 
in beauty of natural scenery might vie with any thing: we had st en in 
Greece, The Athenians were very partial to a country life (Tliucy- 
dides, lib. ii.) ; and many of these places, like that beautiful village of 
Cephissias, seven miles to the north of Athens, which Aulus Gellius 
has described, were the favourite abodes of the Athenian*, whenever 
they could retire from the noise of the popular assemblies at Athens. 
Jt does not however appear that they attended much to the agriculture 
of the couutry : " Every man," says Xenophon,(V<r CEcon.J " may he a 
farmer ; no art or skill is requisite :" a very good proof, observes Hume, 
that agriculture was not much understood. When we consider this, 
and the natural sterility of Attica, which the Antients so often men- 
tion, (see the Sctyl. on Olym. 7. of Pindar,) we cannot but wonder at 
the great population which the country was able to maintain. Heyne 
says barley was indigenous in the north of Attica : and the olive-tree, 
which abounds in this country, might have contributed to the support 
of great numbers; it being used antiently, as it is now, fora commou 
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