
§26 
extended, on one fide to the If{thmus, and 
on the other to Epirus, as far as to Cis 
theron and Parnethe. Thefe boundaries 
are on the defcent, having Oropia on the 
right hand, and limiting Atopus, to- 
wards the fea, on the lefr. It is like- 
wife faid that the whole earth was van- 
quifhed by the valour of this region; 
and that on this account it was at that 
time able to fupport the numerous army, 
formed from the furrounding inhabitants. 
But this, it is faid, was a mighty proof of 
virtue. For what is now. left of this 
country, may contend with any other in* 
fertility of foil, in the goodnefs of its 
fruits, and in paftures accommodated to 
every {pecies of animals. - But then it 
produced all thefe, not only thus beauti- 
ful, but likewife in the greateft abund- 
ance. But how is this credible? and 
by what arguments can.it be fhown that 
thefe are the remains of the land that 
then exifted ? The whole of this region 
is fituated like along promontory, ex- 
tending into the fea, from the other con- 
tinent. “This the profound receptacle of 
the fea every way furrounds: As, there- 
fore, many and mighty deluges happened in 
tvat period of nine thoufand years (for fo 
many years bave elapfed from tbat to the 
prefent time) the defluxions of the earth at 
thefe times, and during thefe calamirics, 
from elevated places, did not, as they 
are elfewhere wont to do, accumulate 
any hilloc which deferves to be men- 
tioned, but always flowing in acircle, at 
length vanifhed in a profundity. The 
parts, therefore, that are left at prefenr, 
are but as {mall iflands, if compared with 
thofe that exifted at that time, and ma 
be faidto refemble the bones of a difeafed 
body; fuch of the earth as was foft and 
fat being wafhed away, and a thin body 
of the country alone remaining. But at 
that time the land being unminyled, con- 
tained mountains and lofty hills; the 
plains, which are now denominated Phel- 
tei, were then full of fat earth; andthe 
mountains apounded with woods, of which 
there are evident tokens even at prefenr. 
For there are mountains which now only 
afford nurriment for bees, but formerly, 
and at no very diftant period, the largeft 
trees were cut down from thofe moun- 
tains, as being adapted for buildings; 
and of thefe edifices the coverings ftill re- 
main. There were likewife many other 
demeftic trees, and moft fertile paftures 
for cattle. This region too, every year 
enjoyed prolific rain, which did not then 
as now run from naked earth into the 
fea, but, being colleéted in great abund- 
m0 
fp 

Athenians gooo Years prior to Selon. 
of water, 
[Sup. 
ance from lofty places, and preferved for 
ufe in certain cavities of the earth, dif- 
fufed copious ftreams of fountains and 
rivers to every part of the country; the 
truth of which is confirmed by certain 
facred remains which are ftill to be feen 
in the ancient fountains. And fuch was 
the natural conditien of this region for- 
merly: befides which, it was cultivated, 
as it was reafonable to fuppofe it would 
be, by real hufbandmen, who were men 
of elegant manners, and of a difpofition 
naturally good ; who poffeffed a moft ex- 
cellent foil, mot abundant ftreams of 
water, anda moft falubrious temperament 
of air. 
Bat the city at that time was built in 
the following manner: Ina the- Grf 
place, the Acropolis was not then as it 
is at prefent ; for now one rainy night, 
having foftened the bare land round 
about, in’a remarkable degree, at the 
fame time produced an earthquake; and 
thus there happened a third fatal inundation 
prior to the deluge of Deucalion. 
But prior to this, the magnitude of the 
Acropolis extended as far as to Eridanus 
and Iliffus, comprehended within itfelf 
Pnyx and Lycabetus, and was bounded 
in.a direction oppofite to Pnyx. All the 
land too was glebous, except a few 
places in a more elevated fituation, which 
were plain. Its exterior parts, on the 
left hand, were inhabited by artifts and 
hufbandmen, who cultivated the neigh- 
bouring land. Bur the warlike tribe 
alone inhabited the elevated parts, about 
the temple of Minerva and Vulcan, being 
dittribured in one inclofere round: the 
garden, as it were of one edifice. For 
thofe who raifed public buildings and 
common banquets, for the winter feafon, 
together with whatever is adapted to a 
common polity, and who furnifhed both 
thefe, and temples themfelves, without 
gold and filver—al! of this defcription 
dwelt in the northern parts of this re- 
gion. For gold and filver were not em- 
ployed by any one at any time ; but pur- 
fuing a middle courfe between arrogance 
and illiberality, they built moderate houfes, 
in which beth they and the offspring 
of their offspring growing old, they al- 
ways left them to others like themfelves. 
But in fummer they ufed gardens, gym- 
nafia, and public banquets, in: places 
fituated towards the fouth. There was. 
likewife one fountain in the place where 
the Acropolis is now fituated, which hay- 
ing been exhaufted by earthquakes, {mall 
circulating ftreams alone remain at pre- 
fent. But at that time every part was 
abundantly 
