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； nearly opposite the Propylaea； and was one of the first objects seen after passing through the gates of the latter。 With its pedestal it must have stood about 70 feet high； and consequently towered above the roof of the Parthenon； so that the point of its spear and the crest of its helmet were visible off the promontory of Sunium to ships approaching Athens。 It was called the 〃Athena Promachus；〃 because it represented the goddess armed； and in the very attitude of battle。
The only other monument on the summit of the Acropolis which it is necessary to describe is the Erechtheum； or temple of Erechtheus。 The traditions respecting Erechtheus vary； but according to one set of them he was identical with the god Poseidon。 He was worshipped in his temple under the name of Poseidon Erechtheus； and from the earliest times was associated with Athena as one of the two protecting deities of Athens。 The original Erechtheum was burnt by the Persians； but the new temple was erected on the ancient site。 This could not have been otherwise； for on this spot was the sacred olive…tree which Athena evoked from the earth in her contest with Poseidon； and also the well of salt…water which Poseidon produced by a stroke of his trident； the impression of which was seen upon the rock。 The building was also called the temple of Athena Polias； because it contained a separate sanctuary of the goddess； as well as her most ancient statue。 The building of the new Erechtheum was not commenced till the Parthenon and Propylaea were finished； and probably not before the year preceding the breaking out of the Peloponnesian war。 Its progress was no doubt delayed by that event； and it was probably not completed before 393 B。C。 When finished it presented one of the finest models of the Ionic order； as the Parthenon was of the Doric； It stood to the north of the latter building and close to the northern wall of the Acropolis。 The form of the Erechtheum differed from every known example of a Grecian temple。 Usually a Grecian temple was an oblong figure with a portico at each extremity。 The Erechtheum； on the contrary； though oblong in shape and having a portico at the eastern or principal front； had none at its western end； where； however； a portico projected north and south from either side； thus forming a kind of transept。 This irregularity seems to have been chiefly owing to the necessity of preserving the different sanctuaries and religious objects belonging to the ancient temple。 A view of it is given opposite。 The roof of the southern portico； as shown in the view； was supported by six Caryatides。
Such were the principal objects which adorned the Acropolis at the time of which we are now speaking。 Their general appearance will be best gathered from the engraving on the Frontispiece。
Before quitting the city of Athens； there are two or three other objects of interest which must be briefly described。 First； the Dionysiac theatre； which occupied the slope at the south…eastern extremity of the Acropolis。 The middle of it was excavated out of the rock； and the rows of seats ascended in curves one above another； the diameter increasing with the height。 It was no doubt sufficiently large to accommodate the whole body of Athenian citizens； as well as the strangers who flocked to Athens during the Dionysiac festival； but its dimensions cannot now be accurately ascertained。 It had no roof； but the spectators were probably protected from the sun by an awning； and from their elevated seats they had a distinct view of the sea； and of the peaked hills of Salamis in the horizon。 Above them rose the Parthenon and the other buildings of the Acropolis； so that they sat under the shadow of the ancestral gods of the country。
The Areopagus； or Hill of Ares （Mars）； was a rocky height opposite the western end of the Acropolis； from which it was separated only by some hollow ground。 It derived its name from the tradition that Ares （Mars） was brought to trial here before the assembled gods； by Poseidon （Neptune）； for murdering Halirrhothius the son of the latter。 It was here that the Council of Areopagus met； frequently called the Upper Council； to distinguish it from the Council of Five Hundred； which assembled in the valley below。 The Areopagites sat as judges in the open air； and two blocks of stone are still to be seen； probably those which were occupied respectively by the accuser and the accused。 The Areopagus was the spot where the Apostle Paul preached to the men of Athens。
The Pnyx； or place for holding the public assemblies of the Athenians； stood on the side of a low rocky hill； at the distance of about a quarter of a mile from the Areopagus。 Projecting from the hill and hewn out of it； still stands a solid rectangular block； called the Bema or pulpit； from whence the orators addressed the multitude in the area before them。 The position of the Bema commanded a view of the Propylaea and the other magnificent edifices of the Acropolis； while beneath it was the city itself studded with monuments of Athenian glory。 The Athenian orators frequently roused the national feelings of their audience by pointing to the Propylaea and to the other splendid buildings before them。 Between the Pnyx on the west； the Areopagus on the north； and the Acropolis on the east； and closely adjoining the base of these hills； stood the Agora （or market…place）。 In a direction from north…west to south…east a street called the Ceramicus ran diagonally through the Agora； entering it through the valley between the Pnyx and the Areopagus。 The street was named after a district of the city； which was divided into two parts； the Inner and Outer Ceramicus。 The former lay within the city walls； and included the Agora。 The Outer Ceramicus； which formed a handsome suburb on the north… west of the city； was the burial…place of all persons honoured with a public funeral。 Through it ran the road to the gymnasium and gardens of the Academy which were situated about a mile from the walls。 The Academy was the place where Plato and his disciples taught。 On each side of this road were monuments to illustrious Athenians； especially those who had fallen in battle。
East of the city； and outside the walls； was the Lyceum； a gymnasium dedicated to Apollo Lyceus； and celebrated as the place in which Aristotle taught。
CHAPTER XI。
THE PELOPONNESIAN WAR。FIRST PERIOD； FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE WAR TO THE PEACE OF NICIAS； B。C。 431…421。
War was now fairly kindled。 All Greece looked on in suspense as its two leading cities were about to engage in a strife of which no man could forsee the end； but the youth； with which both Athens and Peloponnesus then abounded； having had no experience of the bitter calamities of war； rushed into it with ardour。 It was a war of principles and races。 Athens was a champion of democracy； Sparta of aristocracy； Athens represented the Ionic tribes； Sparta the Dorian； the former were fond of novelty； the latter were conservative and stationary； Athens had the command of the sea； Sparta was stronger upon land。 On the side of Sparta was ranged the whole of Peloponnesus； except Argos and Achaia； together with the Megarians； Boeotians； Phocians；