midst of a wide and pleasant plain, which became filled with buildings as the inhabitants increased; and this made the distinction between Acropolis and Catapolis, or the upper and lower city. The citadel or Acropolis was 60 stadia in circumference, and included many extensive buildings. A. lies on the Saronic gulf, opposite the eastern coast of the Peloponnesus. It is built on a peninsula formed by the junction of the Cephissus and Ilissus. From the sea, where its real power lay, it was distant about five leagues. It was connected, by walls of great strength and extent, with three harbors-the Piræus, Munychia and Phalerum. The first was considered the most convenient, and was one of the emporiums of Grecian commerce. The surrounding coast was covered with magnificent buildings, whose splendor vied with those of the city. The, walls of rough stone, which connected the harbors with the city, were so broad, that, carriages could go on their top. The Acropolis contained the most splendid works of art of which A. could boast. Its chief ornament was the Parthenon, or temple of Minerva. This magnificent building, which, even in ruins, has been the wonder of the world, was 217 feet long, 98 broad, and 65 high. Destroyed by the Persians, it was rebuilt in a noble manner by Pericles, 444 years B. C. Here stood the statue of Minerva by Phidias, a masterpiece of art, formed of ivory, 46 feet high, and richly decorated with gold, whose weight was estimated at from 40 to 44 talents (2000 to 2200 pounds), which, if we reckon according to Barthelemy, the silver talent at 5700 livres, and the ratio of gold to silver as 1 to 13, would make a sum of 2,964,000, or 3,260,400 livres (523,700, or 576,004 dollars). The Propylæum, built of white marble, formed the entrance to the Parthenon. This building lay on the north side of the Acropolis, close to the Erectheum, also of white marble, consisting of two temples, the one dedicated to Pallas Minerva, and the other to Neptune; besides another remarkable building, called the Pandro seum. In the circle of Minerva's temple stood the olive-tree, sacred to that goddess. On the front part of the Acropolis, and on each end, two theatres are visible, the one of Bacchus, the other, the Odeum; the former for dramatic exhibitions, the latter for musical competitions, also built with extraordinary splendor. The treasury is also in the back part of the temple of Minerva. In the lower city were many fine specimens of architecture,

viz., the Poikile, or the gallery of historical paintings; besides the temple of the Winds, built by Andronicus Cyrrhestes, and the monuments of celebrated men. But the greatest pieces of architecture were without the city-the temples of Theseus and Jupiter Olympius, one of which stood on the north, the other on the south side of the city. The first was of Doric architecture, and resembled the Parthenon. On the metopes of this temple the famous deeds of old heroes and kings were excellently represented. The temple of Jupiter Olympius was of Ionic architecture, and far surpassed all the other buildings of Athens in splendor and beauty. Incalculable sums were spent on it. It was from time to time enlarged, and rendered more beautiful, until, at length, it was finished by Adrian. The outside of this temple was adorned by nearly 120 fluted columns, 60 feet high, and 6 feet in diameter. The inside was nearly half a league in circumference. Here stood the renowned statue of the god made by Phidias, of gold and ivory. The Pantheon (sacred to all the gods) must not be forgotten. Of this the Pantheon at Rome is an exact copy. Besides these wonderful works of art, Athens contains many other places which must always be interesting, from the recollections connected with them. The old philosophers were not accustomed, as is well known, to shut up their scholars in lecture-rooms, but mingled with them on the freest and pleasantest terms, and, for this purpose, sought out spots which were still and retired. Such a spot was the renowned academy where Plato taught, lying about six stadia north of the city, forming a part of a place called Ceramicus. This spot, originally marshy, had been made a very pleasant place, by planting rows of trees, and turning through it streams of fresh water. Such a place was the Lyceum, where Aristotle taught, and which, through him, became the seat of the Peripatetic school. It lay on the bank of the Ilissus, opposite the city, and was also used for gymnastic exercises. Not far from thence was the less renowned Cynosarges, where Antisthenes, the founder of the Cynic school, taught. The sects of Zeno and Epicurus held their meetings in the city. Zeno chose the well-known Poikile, and Epicurus established himself in a garden within the walls, for he loved both society and rural quiet. Not only literary, but political assemblies gave a particular interest to different places in Athens. Here was the

court of areopagus, where that illustrious body gave their decisions; the Prytaneum, or senate-house; the Pnyx, where the free people of Athens deliberated. After 23 centuries of war and devastation, of changes from civilized to savage masters, have passed over this great city, its ruins still excite astonishment. No inconsider able part of the Acropolis was lately standing. The Turks have surrounded it with a broad, irregular wall. In this wall one may perceive the remains of the old wall, together with fragments of ancient pillars, which have been taken from the ruins of the old to construct new edifices. The right wing of the Propylæum, built by Pericles at an expense of 2012 talents, and which formed the ancient entrance, was a temple of victory. The roof of this building stood as late as 1656, when it was destroyed by the explosion of some powder kept there. In a part of the present wall, there are fragments of excellent designs in basso relievo, representing the contest of the Athenians with the Amazons. On the opposite wing of the Propylæum are six whole columns, with gate-ways between them. These pillars, half covered on the front side by the wall built by the Turks, are of marble, white as snow, and of the finest workmanship. They consist of three or four stones, so artfully joined together, that, though they have been exposed to the weather for 2000 years, yet no separation has been observed. From the Propylæum we step into the Parthenon. On the eastern front of this building, also, there are eight columns standing, and several colonnades on the side. Of the pediment, which represented the contest of Neptune and Minerva for Athens, there is nothing remaining but the head of a sea-horse, and the figures of two women without heads; but in all we must admire the highest degree of truth and beauty. The battle between the Centaurs and Lapitha is better preserved. Of all the statues with which it was adorned, that of Adrian alone remains. The inside of this temple is now changed into a mosque. In the whole of this mutilated building, we find an indescribable expression of grandeur and sublimity. There are also astonishing remains to be seen of the Erectheum (the temple of Neptune Erectheus), especially the beautiful female figures called Caryatides, and which form two archways. Of both theatres there is only so much of the outer walls remaining, that one can estimate their former condition and enormous size. The arena has sunk

down, and is now planted with corn. In the lower city itself, there are no vestiges to be found of equal beauty and extent. Near a church, sacred to Santa Maria Maggiore, stand three very beautiful Corinthian columns, which support an architrave. They have been supposed to be the remains of a temple of Jupiter Olympius, but the opinion is not well grounded: probably, they are the remains of the old Poikile. The temple of the Winds, built by Andronicus Cyrrhestes, is not entire. Its form is an octagon: on each side it is covered with reliefs, which represent one of the principal winds: the work is excellent. The preservation of this edifice is owing to its being occupied by the dervises as a mosque. Of the monuments of distinguished men, with which a whole street was filled, only the fine one of Lysicrates remains. It consists of a pedestal surrounded by a colonnade, and is surmounted by a dome of Corinthian architecture. This has been supposed to be the spot which Demosthenes used for his study, but the supposition is not well supported. What lord Elgin has done for the preservation of the remains of old Grecian architecture, may be seen by a reference to the articles on Elgin, and Elgin's Marble Monuments. Some prostrate walls are the only remains of the splendid gymnasium built by Ptolemy. Outside of the city, our wonder is excited by the lofty ruins of the temple of the Olympian Jupiter. Of 120 pillars, 16 remain ; but none of the statues are in existence. The pedestals and inscriptions are scattered here and there, and partly buried in the earth. The main body of the temple of Theseus has remained almost entire, but much of it, as it now stands, is of modern origin. The figures on the outside are mostly destroyed, but those which adorn the frieze within are well preserved. They represent the actions of the heroes of antiquity. The battle between Theseus and the Centaur is likewise depicted. On the hill where the famous court of areopagus held its sittings, you find steps hewn in the rock, places for the judges to sit, and over against these the stations of the accuser and the accused. The hill is now a Turkish burial-ground, and is covered with monuments. The Pnyx, the place of assembly for the people, not far from the Areopagus, is very nearly in its primitive state. One may see the place from which the orators spoke hewn in the rock, the seats of the scribes, and, at both ends, the places of those officers

Sicily, and, in 1456, the place fell into the hands of Omar. To complete its degradation, the city of Minerva obtained the privilege (an enviable one in the East) of being governed by a black eunuch, as an appendage to the haram. The Parthenon became a mosque, and, at the west end of the Acropolis, those alterations were commenced, which the new discovery of artillery then made necessary. In 1687, at the siege of A. by the Venetians under Morosini, it appears that the temple of Victory was destroyed, the beautiful remains of which are to be seen in the British museum. Sept. 28, of this year, a bomb fired the powder-magazine kept by the Turks in the Parthenon, and, with this building, destroyed the ever memorable remains of the genius of Phidias. Probably, the Venetians knew not what they destroyed; they could not have intended that their artillery should accomplish such devastation. The city was surrendered to them Sept. 29. They wished to send the chariot of Victory, which stood on the west pediment of the Parthenon, to Venice, as a trophy of their conquest, but, in removing, it fell and was dashed to pieces. April, 1688, A. was again surrendered to the Turks, in spite of the remonstrances of the inhabitants, who, with good reason, feared the revenge of their returning masters. Learned travellers have, since that time, often visited A.; and we may thank their relations and drawings for the knowledge which we have of many of the monuments of the place. How little the Greeks of modern times have understood the importance of these buildings, is proved by Crusius' Turco-Grecia. From them originated the names temple of the unknown God, lantern of Demosthenes, &c. It is doing injustice to the Turks to attribute to them, exclusively, the crime of destroying these remains of antiquity. From these ruins the Greeks have supplied themselves with all their materials for building for hundreds of years. The ruins are in the neighborhood of inhabited places, and, in the seaport towns, are particularly exposed, because ease of transportation is added to the daily want of materials. In the mean time, the most accessible part of A. has rich treasures to reward well-directed researches; and each fragment, which comes to light in A., proves the all-pervading art and taste of this people. It is fortunate that many of the remains of Grecian art have been covered by barbarous structures, until a brighter day should dawn on Greece.

ATHENS; a post-town of Georgia, in Clarke co., on the Oconee; 92 W. N. W Augusta, 197 N. W. Savannah. It has a very elevated, pleasant and healthy situa tion. It contained, in 1827, upwards of 70 dwelling-houses, and nearly 1000 inhabitants. Franklin college, which, together with the incorporated academies of the state, is styled the university of Georgia, was incorporated and established at this place in 1784, but did not go into operation till 1803. The buildings consist of two large brick edifices for the accommodation of students, a chapel, a steward's hall, a brick building for the chemical and the philosophical apparatus, and the library, which contains about 2000 volumes, and a building for a grammar-school, which is connected with the college. The government and instruction of the college are intrusted to a president, four professors and two tutors. The number of students, in 1827, was 100.

ATHENS; a small post-town of Ohio, and capital of a county of the same name, 41 miles W. Marietta, 52 E. Chillicothe; lon. 182° 7′ W.; lat. 39° 23′ N. It is situated on an elevated peninsula, formed by a large bend of the Hockhocking, which meanders about the town. The situation is pleasant and healthy, and commands an extensive prospect. An institution is established here, styled the Ohio university, which is endowed with 46,000 acres of land, yielding about 2300 dollars annually. A college edifice of brick, large and elegant, was erected in 1817.

ATHLETE; combatants who took part in the public games of Greece; also, young men who went through the gymnastic exercises to harden themselves, and to become fit to bear arms. In a narrower sense, the athlete are those who make the athletic or gymnastic exercises their principal business, particularly wrestlers and boxers. Their business was to contend at the public festivals; and they regulated their habits of life with reference to this purpose. They were well fed, and were obliged to abstain from intercourse with the other sex. Before they were permitted to exhibit themselves at the public games, inquiries were made respecting the birth, rank and conduct of each. A herald called out the name of the athlete, and demanded of all whether they had any objection against him. After this examination, and after the athlete had taken an oath that he had complied with all the conditions required, and that he would strictly obey the laws of the contest, permission was

given him to contend. The antagonists were designated by lot. Not only the applause of the people, but also crowns and statues, were conferred upon the victor. He was led in triumph; his name was written in the public records; an Olympiad was named after him, and poets sung his praise. He also received peculiar privileges, had a yearly pension, and the foremost seat at the sacred games. Particular honors were conferred on him by his native city, for all his fellow-citizens partook of his glory. (See Gymnastics.)

ATHOS, now Agion Oros, or Monte Santo; a high mountain, or the extremity of a long chain of mountains, in the province of Salonica, in European Turkey, which runs through a peninsula seven miles long, and three miles broad, into the Archipelago. Xerxes caused a canal, half a league wide, to be dug through the neck of land which connects the peninsula with the continent, for the purpose of conducting his fleet to Thessaly. The mountain is about 5900 feet above the level of the sea, and is inhabited by Greeks. On the sides are about twenty inonasteries, and a multitude of hermitages, which contain more than 6000 monks, mostly Russian, of the order of St. Basil. These live here in a perfect separation from the world, and under such strict regulations, that they do not tolerate any female being, not even of the class of domestic animals, among them. They are also extremely industrious: they carve statues of the saints, Agnos Dei and Paternosters, which they send to the market-town of Kareis, on the mountain, where weekly markets are held, and to the rest of Europe, especially to Russia. They also collect alms, to pay their heavy taxes to the pacha and the Porte. They have many schools. The holy mountain is considered one of the most important seminaries for instruction among the Greeks, and the libraries of the monasteries are rich in literary treasures, particularly in manuscripts, partly procured from Constantinople, before its conquest by the Turks, partly presented to them from the same place, and partly written by the laborious monks. Many books have been brought thence to the great collections at Paris, Vienna, &c. Their monasteries and churches are the only ones in the Ottoman empire which have bells.

ATHWART (par le travers, Fr., from a and twert, Dan., transverse), when used in navigation, implies across the line of the

course.

ATHWART-HAWSE; the situation of a

ship when she is driven by the wind, tide, or other accident, across the forepart of another. This phrase is equally applied when the ships bear against each other, or when they are at a small distance; the transverse position of the former to the latter being principally understood.-Athwart the fore-foot denotes the flight of a cannon-ball from one ship across the course of another, to intercept the latter, and oblige her to shorten sail, that the former may come near enough to examine her.

ATLANTICA, Atland eller Manheim ; a work, in Latin and Swedish, by O. Rudbeck, in which the author, with great learning, labors to prove a ludicrous hypothesis, that the Atlantis of the ancients was Sweden, and that the Romans, Greeks, English, Danes and Germans originated from Sweden. The work is a typographic rarity. The first volume appeared in 1675-79, at Upsal. Several editions of it followed. The last Latin edition is of 1699, and bears a high price. Written copies of it are in several European libraries.

ATLANTIC OCEAN; the mass of water between the western coast of Europe and Africa, and the eastern coast of America; the only considerable aquatic communication between the polar extremities of the earth, if we do not give to both its extremities the name of the Frozen ocean. The name is derived from Atlas. (q. v.) The Atlantic, in its narrowest part, between Europe and Greenland, is upwards of 1000 miles wide, and, opening thence to the S. W. with the general range of the bounding continents, spreads, under the northern tropic, to a breadth of 60 degrees of longitude, or 4170 miles, without estimating the gulf of Mexico. Beyond the torrid zone, the A. inflects to the N. W. and S. E., again complying with the bearing of the adjacent continents, which correspond with great exactness to each other. The A. and its gulfs occupy about the seventh part of the superficies of the globe, curving round the western, southern and northern part of the eastern continent, from 72° N. lat. to 35° S. lat., or through 107 degrees of latitude. This immense strait is limited, on the west, by the most lengthened landline, extending north and south, that can be drawn on the earth. "When we cast an eye over the Atlantic," says Humboldt, in his Personal Narrative, "or that deep valley which divides the western coasts of Europe and Africa from the eastern coasts of the new continent, we distin