Page:History of Greece Vol V.djvu/272

248 of the excessive hurry in which it was raised, the structure was thoroughly solid and sufficient against every external enemy: but there is reason to believe that its very large inner area was never filled with buildings. Empty spaces, for the temporary shelter of inhabitants driven in from the country with their property, were eminently useful to a Grecian city-community; to none more useful than to the Athenians, whose principal strength lay in their fleet, and whose citizens habitually resided in large proportion in their separate demes throughout Attica.

The first indispensable step, in the renovation of Athens after her temporary extinction, was now happily accomplished : the city was made secure against external enemies. But Themisto- klês, to whom the Athenians owed the late successful stratagem, and whose influence must have been much strengthened by its success, had conceived plans of a wider and more ambitious range. He had been the original adviser of the great maritime start taken by his countrymen, as well as of the powerful naval force which they had created during the last few years, and which had so recently proved their salvation. He saw in that force both the only chance of salvation for the future, in case the Persians should renew their attack by sea, — a contingency at that time seemingly probable, — and boundless prospects of future ascendency over the Grecian coasts and islands : it was the gi*eat engine of defence, of offence, and of ambition. To continue this movement required much less foresight and genius than to begin it, and Themistokles, the moment that the walls of the city had been finished, brought back the attention of his countrymen to those v.ooden walls which had served them as a refuge against the Persian monarch. He prevailed upon them to provide harbor-room at once safe and adequate, by the en- largement and fortification of tlie Peira^us. This again was only the prosecution of an enterprise previously begun : for he had already, while in office two or three years before, made his