named after the Attic hero, Erechtheus, which once contained the seated figure of the Goddess Athena. Six large statues of women upholding the cornice of the porch are the Caryatides, possibly the attendants of Athena Polias-four in front and one at each side. One of the figures is a terra-cotta cast of the original, which is now in the British Museum, having been carried to England by Lord Elgin. The marble columns on the other side of the Erechtheum are considered by many the best examples of the Ionic style of architecture.

It is the Parthenon which takes travelers to Athens; representations of the Parthenon in pictures and prints and sculptured miniatures, travelers take away from Athens. It is ever true, as an American poet has said: "Earth proudly wears the Parthenon

As the best gem upon her throne.”

Even in its ruins the Parthenon is majestic. Two architects, Ictinus and Calycrites, designed this beautiful structure. The date of its beginning is thought to have been about 454 B. C., and it was dedicated to Athena in 438 B. C. The harmony of its proportions attracts the eye of builders and the lovers of beauty. With eight columns at the ends and seventeen at the sides, its symmetry is practically perfect. It is said that there are no straight lines in the Parthenon, even in the sub-structure, and that one of the charms of the building lies in the subtleness of the curves. The

THE GLORY OF THE PARTHENON 73

steps rise in a gentle billow from end to end, the columns bulge infinitesimally in the middle-everywhere the eye rests on the exquisite beauty of a delicate curve. The crowning charm of the Parthenon of old was the sculpture which completed and decorated it. This was put in the gables or pediments and around the outsides at intervals on the frieze or space above the architrave. Color was used freely for details everywhere and traces of it still exist. The background of the frieze was probably dark blue, as also were the panels of the ceilings. The carved marble frieze which, over five hundred feet in length, extended around the building was the work of Phidias and has no rival.

The crowning glory of the Parthenon, as it stood more than twenty-three centuries ago, was the colossal statue of Athena Parthenos, Athena the Virgin, forty feet in height, made under the direction of Phidias. The Caryatides were eight feet in height, while the statue of Athena was equal to five of these gigantic women placed one above the other. Pausanias, the Greek historian, thus describes the statue: "The image itself is made of ivory and gold. Its helmet was surmounted in the middle by the figure of a sphinx and on either side of the helmet are griffins, wrought in relief. The image of Athena stands upright, clad in a garment which reaches to her feet; on her breast is the head of Medusa, wrought in ivory. She holds a Victory about four cubits high in one hand and in the

other hand a sphere, and at her feet lies a shield and near the sphere a serpent." The Victory to which reference is made is an image of the goddess of victory. The Parthenon contains also a treasury in which were deposited the spoils which the Athenians captured from their enemies. The Romans, under Nero, in turn took rare paintings, valuable ornaments and costly bronzes from the Parthenon, while Goths, Normans, Franks, Venetians and Vandals plundered the city, stripping the decorations of gold and silver from columns and walls. The Turks literally took shiploads of marble and bronzes to Constantinople, while England enriched the British Museum with many choice marbles from the Acropolis in order to preserve them, Lord Elgin said. Built as a temple of idolatry, the Parthenon became, under the Romans, a Catholic cathedral, under the Greeks a Christian church, and under the Sultan a Mohammedan mosque.

Almost directly in front of the Acropolis stands a rock elevation of greater interest to the Christian traveler than all the storied buildings of Classic Greece, for on the Areopagus, or Mars' Hill, the great Apostle Paul gave an address, teaching the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man, which has no peer in literature. In Corinth, later, as he himself says, he determined to know nothing among the Corinthians except Jesus Christ and Him crucified; in Athens also he preached the resurrection of the dead, though some mocked and others delayed; for nineteen

THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD

75

centuries his sermon on Mars' Hill has been the inspiration of the Church and his example has been followed by countless preachers, who have tried, like Paul, to win men to Christ, rather than force them to accept this or that doctrine of men. It was a real inspiration to stand with a few friends on Mars' Hill and think over again the message to the men of Athens, and hear the messenger from Jerusalem declare that he came to speak to them of the unknown God, to whom, not knowing, they had devoted an altar.

From Mars' Hill to the Stadium, where the Olympic games are held, is a short drive, and many monuments of minor interest are passed. In the Stadium one sees where the Americans won many medals over their competitors from other countries.

An eventful forenoon in Athens was ending with a carriage drive from the Acropolis and Mars' Hill to the Burial Ground when a friend remarked:

"That is the Royal Palace, but apparently no one is received there, for the parties did not stop yesterday when you were in Corinth." By this time the palace, an imposing structure of Pentelic marble, with an Ionic colonnade, was reached.

"Yesterday is gone; let us see what to-day will bring forth."

The sentry saluted the Americans and the doorkeeper bade them welcome. The members of the party were shown through the public rooms and then taken up the broad stairway to the second floor, pass

ing on the way a beautiful painting of "Prometheus Bound" above the landing, and at the top of the stairway a statue of Penelope with her ball of yarn and her distaff, both of which were pointed out with no little pride.

"Would it be possible to see His Majesty for a moment?" asked the writer. The face of the faithful

attendant flushed as he replied:

"No! no! That is impossible."

"Perhaps you would carry a letter to His Majesty's aide." After some hesitation, but with the air of one who apparently thought that no harm could be done, since he had given no promise of an audience with the King, he directed the party to accompany him to the public reception-room. There the request was repeated in Greek, and the military aide read the letter. A cordial smile augured well for the errand in question, but many diplomatic objections suggested themselves when the official learned that the audience must take place if at all within the next hour. His Majesty was in conference with the Minister of War at the time and could not be disturbed. At what hotel were the visitors stopping, that an answer might be sent to them? Leaving Greece in two hours, and the King was so busy!

After some delay the interview was arranged.
"Come this way, please.

It was the military aide who was speaking. The Americans started toward the door.