Page:The History of Slavery and the Slave Trade.djvu/44

 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 harem. 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 Athens 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. September 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 September 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, Athens 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 travelers have, since that time, often visited Athens; and we may thank their relations and drawings for the knowledge which we have of many of the monuments of the place.





 The Helots: — leading events of their History summed up. — Their Masters described. — The Spartans, their manners, customs and constitutions. — Distinguishing traits: severity, resolution and perseverance, treachery and craftiness. — Marriage. — Treatment of Infants. — Physical Education of Youth. — Their endurance of hardships. — The Helots: their origin; supposed to belong to the State; power of life and death over them; how subsisted; property acquired by them; their military service. — Plato, Aristotle, Isocrates, Plutarch and other writers convict the Spartans of barbarity towards them; the testimony of Myron on this point; instances of tyranny and cruelty. — Institution of the Crypteia; annual massacre of the Helots. — Terrible instance of treachery. — Bloody servile wars. — Sparta engaged in contests with her own vassals. — Relies upon foreign aid. — Earthquake, and vengeance of the Helots. — Constant source of terror to their masters. — Other classes of slaves. — Their privileges and advancement. — Slavery in Crete: classes and condition. — Mild treatment. — Strange privileges during certain Festivals. — Slaves of Syracuse rebel and triumph. — The Arcadians.

seems to be a diversity of opinion among modern writers, as to the condition of the Spartan Helots. The American Encyclopedia, in giving 