THEBES. 69 
those masses which remam, belonging to the chap. 
antient walls, we saw enough to convince us that . 
the story of Amphion was no fable ; for it was a ^Zphion 
very antient custom to carry on immense labour Lytenota 
by an accompaniment of music and singing. ^»b^«- 
The custom, indeed, still exists, both in Egypt 
and in Greece. It might therefore be said, that 
the walls of Thebes were built at the sound of the 
only musical instrument then in use ; because, 
according to the custom of the country, the 
lyre was necessary for the accomplishment of 
the work. 
. We saw, in two instances, upon stones in the 
walls of a church, the traces of inscriptions 
which were no longer legible: but in another 
wall we found the following; informing us, that 
in antient Thebes, as in London, there were 
different companies, or communities, established 
for the different vocations. It is rendered 
moreover interesting, by containing the name 
of the city ; thereby confirming our know- 
ledge of the spot : and it purports, that 
** TiMOCLES, THE SON OF TiMosTRATUs, is ho- 
noured BY THE COMMUNITY OF THE ARTIFICERS 
AT Thebes." 
