THE FATHER AND MOTHER OF AMARIUS CHAP. VI. NEPOS ÆGIALINUM, WHO HAD BEEN HONOURED BY THE SENATE OF CORINTH WITH REWARDS DUE TO HIM AS SENATOR AND OVERSEER OF THE FORUM, PUT THEIR SON UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE PYTHIAN APOLLO." ΑΜΑΡΙΟΝΝΕΠΩΤΑΑΙΓΙΑΛΕΙΝΟΝΤΕ ΤΙΜΗΜΕΝΟΝ ΑΠΟΤΗΣΚΟΡΙΝΘΙΩΝ ΒΟΥΛΗΣΤΕΙΑΙΣΒΟΥΛΕΥΤΙΚΑΙΣΚΑΙ ΠΥΘΙΩΙ In consequence of some dispute between the agents of Ali Pasha and the inhabitants of Castri, the Pasha has laid the village under contribution, to pay him the sum of thirty purses; equal to fifteen thousand piastres. This they are unable to do; and of course every thing they had has been taken from them; which may serve to explain the present ruined state of the place. In its present condition, there is not in all Lapland a more wretched village than Castri. The other villages upon Parnassus, especially Arracovia, are comparatively wealthy; Cause of the wretch ed state of Castri. VI. CHAP. the soil being extremely fertile, and the natural industry of the inhabitants, many of whom are · Albanians, being very great. The wine produced over all the south side of the mountain is excellent; and there is not a resident Turk to be found. Medals. Upon our return to the house where we had lodged, we examined a few medals which our host had collected among the inhabitants, during our absence; and we obtained one, in silver, of very great rarity. It was a small medal of Eta in THESSALY, in excellent preservation, and the die remarkably fine. In front it exhibits the head of the Nemean Lion, champing the arrow of Hercules between his jaws; and upon the obverse side, the naked figure of the hero, in the moment of his apotheosis upon Mount Eta, his head radiated, and holding his knotted club between his hands, with the legend OITAIN; thus written from right to left, NOIATIO. This exceedingly rare medal is not known to exist in any other collection than that of the Abbé Neumann, at present forming a part of the Imperial cabinet at Vienna; where, however, there is no example of it in such perfect preservation. It may be considered as one of VI. the finest specimens of the Grecian art'. Virgil, CHAP. who was not less an antiquary than a poet, borrowed much of his finest imagery from the gems and coins of Greece; and in the magnificent description given by Ovid of the apotheosis of Hercules, he seems to have had in contemplation this medal of ETA. 66 (1) The original is now in the possession of R. P. Knight, Esq. See also an Engraving of this Medal in a work published at Vienna, in two Parts, by the Abbé Neumann; entitled Populorum et Regum Numi Veteres inediti." Pars Prima, Tab. V. No. 7. Vindo. bona, 1779. The Second Part appeared in 1783. Speaking of this silver medal of Eta, the author says, Hæc atque alia diversa Musei Pelleriniani, utraque ærea, Etæorum solæ sunt monetæ, quæ ad nostra tempora in apricum protulit ætas. Iis tertiam nunc addo, spectato metallo unicam, artificio, cujus veneres nec verbis, nec scalpro digne exprimas, nitore atque elegantiá insignem.” Ibid. p. 160. (2) “Utque novus serpens, positâ cum pelle senectâ, Luxuriare solet, squamâque nitere recenti : Ovidi Metamorph. lib. ix. 266. Primary Form of Carbonated Lime developed by the Fracture of Limestone, upon the Summit of Parnassus. CHAP. VII. DELPHI, TO THE SUMMIT OF PARNASSUS, AND TITHOREA. Arracovia-Vineyards of Parnassus-Prospect-Condition of the inhabitants-Alteration of temperature-Traditions-Journey to the summit-Kallidia-Disappearance of the vegetation-Crater of Parnassus-Nature of the Peak-State of the thermometer upon the heights-Objects visible from the top of the mountain— Bearings by the compass-Adventure with the horses -Geological features-Singular effect of spontaneous decomposition in Limestone-Inference deduced from such phenomena-Plants of Parnassus-Lugari, or Lycorea-Monastery of the Virgin-Caloyers-their devotional exercises-Ignorance of those priests-Journey to Velitza-CACHALES torrent-Discovery of the Ruins of Tithorea-its relative position with regard to Delphi-Produce of Velitza-Simplicity of the Natives -their miserable condition-Antiquity of TithoreaOther Memorabilia-Egyptian custom of embalming birds illustrated-Inscription relating to Tithorea-its date ascertained-Other Inscriptions. AFTER we had taken some refreshment, we set out for Arracovia, distant three hours from Delphi, intending to pass the night there; as it is much higher upon Parnassus, and a better place for procuring guides to the summit of the mountain, than the miserable village we had quitted. At about half an hour's distance from Delphi, we found the remains of an antient square building, nobly constructed with large masses of stone, put together without any cement. As we continued along this route, we observed niches cut in the rocks above the road, on our left hand. One place, in particular, near to Delphi, exhibited several works of this kind; among others, the appearance of a large door hewn in the solid stone, which had been subsequently severed by the effect of an earthquake. It is close to the road, and well worth CHAP. VII. |