172 EXCURSION FROM LEBADEA 
Ilomoloia — Sophocles o/* Athens mentioned as a Victor 
in Tragedy — Later Inscriptions — Hieron of Bacchus — 
Sciathericum of the antient City — Greek Epigram 
iherehy illustrated — Treasury of Minyas — Proof of the 
antiquity of Domes in Architecture — Acropolis of 
Orchomenus — Condition of the present inhabitants — 
Superstition respecting certain stones — Return to 
Lebadtja. 
CHAP. ^^T Thursday, December the tenth, we made an 
V. -^ 
> 1^- > excursion across the plam, from Lehadea ; and 
passmg a bridge, took a north-ivest direction, 
towards some hills, over which we rode, fol- 
lowing the antient paved way to Ch.eronka. 
Descending these hills, we crossed a rivulet, 
and entered the Plain of Chieroiica ; thus divided 
from that of Lehadea, but resembling the latter 
in its beauty and fertility. It extends from 
east-south-east to ivest-north-wesl; being about two 
miles in breadth, and ten or twelve in length. 
Aspect of This plain is bounded towards the north-iue.^t 
and luest by Parnassus, which entirely closes it 
in on that side, and exhibits one of the boldest 
and most striking barriers in nature, visible the 
whole way from Lehadea; its sharp ridge alone 
being covered with snow, but all below appear- 
ing in bleak and rugged masses of limestone, of 
a grey aspect, except the base, which is co- 
vered with shrubs and coppice. Parnassus 
