Page:History of Greece Vol VII.djvu/186

168 1G8 HISTORY OF GKEECK. which, in the case of persons of different creeds, each regards the strong emotions growing out of causes peculiar to the other, is usually one of surprise that such trifles and absurdities can occa- sion any serious distress or excitement. 1 But if we take that reasonable pains, which is incumbent on those who study the history of Greece, to realize in our minds the religious and political associations of the Athenians, 2 noted in ancient times for their superior piety, as well as for their accuracy and mag- nificence about the visible monuments embodying that feeling, we shall in part comprehend the intensity of mingled dismay, terror, and wrath, which beset the public mind on the morning after this nocturnal sacrilege, alike unforeseen and unparalleled. Amidst all the ruin and impoverishment which had been inflicted by the Persian invasion of Attica, there was nothing which was so profoundly felt or so long remembered as the deliberate burn- ing of the statues and temples of the gods. 3 If we could imagine 1 It is truly astonishing to read the account given of this mutilation of the Hernia?, and its consequences, by Wachsmuth, Hellen. Alterthiimer, vol. ii, sect. 65, pp. 191-196. While he denounces the Athenian people, for their conduct during the subsequent inquiry, in the most unmeasured lan- guage, yon would suppose that the incident which plunged them into this mental distraction, at a moment of overflowing hope and confidence, was a mere trifle : so briefly does he pass it over, without taking the smallest pains to show in what way it profoundly wounded the religious feeling of Athens. Buttner (Geschichte der politischen Hetaerieen zu Athen. p. 65), though very brief, takes a fairer view than "Wachsmuth. tiones AndocJdeae, cap. 2. Especially the u-yviaridef dtpa-slai (Eurip. Ion. 187) were noted at Athens: ceremonial attentions towards the divine persons who protected the public streets, a function performed by Apollo Aguicus, as well as by Hermes. 1 Herodot. viii, 144 ; ^Eschylus, Pers. 810 ; JEschyl. Agam. 339. The wrath for any indignity offered to the statue of a god or goddess, and impa- tience to punish it capitally, is manifested as far back as the ancient epic poem of Arktinus : sec the argument of the 'IXiov llepaiz in Proclus, ar;d Welcker, Griechische Tragiidien, SopkoUcs, sect. 21, vol. i, p. 162. Hcrodo tus cnnnot explain the indignities offered by Kambyscs to the Egyptian statues j.i holy customs upon any other supposition than that of stark madness, ifiuvrj fteyuhuf ; Herod, iii, 37-38. Tiira-iu the Sicilian historian (writing about 320-290 B.C.) represented
 * Pausanias, i, 17, 1 ; i, 24, 3 ; Harpokration v, 'Eppai. Sec Sluiter, Lee