. A smaller history of Greece, from the earliest times to the Roman conquest. , in which ivory was substituted for marble in those Chap. X, THE ERECHTHEUM. 93 parts which were uncovered, while the place of the real draperywas supplied with robes and other ornaments of solid gold. Itsheight, including the base, was nearly 40 feet. It represented thegoddess standing, clothed with a tunic reaching to the ankles, witha spear in her left hand, and an image of Victory in her right. The Acropolis was adorned with another colossal figure of Athena,in bronze, also the work of Phidias. It stood in the o
. A smaller history of Greece, from the earliest times to the Roman conquest. , in which ivory was substituted for marble in those Chap. X, THE ERECHTHEUM. 93 parts which were uncovered, while the place of the real draperywas supplied with robes and other ornaments of solid gold. Itsheight, including the base, was nearly 40 feet. It represented thegoddess standing, clothed with a tunic reaching to the ankles, witha spear in her left hand, and an image of Victory in her right. The Acropolis was adorned with another colossal figure of Athena,in bronze, also the work of Phidias. It stood in the open air,nearly opposite the Propylsea, and was one of the first objects seenafter passing through the gates of the latter. With its pedestal itmust have stood about 70 feet high, and consequently toweredabove the roof of the Parthenon, so that the point of its spear andthe crest of its helmet were visible off the promontory of Suniumto ships approaching Athens. It was called the Athena Pro-machus, because it represented the goddess armed, and in thevery attitude of Centaur, from the Metopes of the Parthenon. The only other monument on the summit of the Acropolis whichit is necessary to describe is the Erechtheum, or temple of Erech-theus. The traditions respecting Erechtheus vary, but according toone set of them he was identical with the god Poseidon. He wasworshipped in his temple under the name of Poseidon Erechtheus,and from the earliest times was associated with Athena as one of 94 HISTORY OF GREECE. Chap. X. the two protecting deities of Athens. The original Erechtheumwas burnt by the Persians, but the new temple was erected on theancient site. This could not have been otherwise ; for on thisspot was the sacred olive-tree which Athena evoked from the earthin her contest with Poseidon, and also the well of salt-water whichPoseidon produced by a stroke of his trident, the impression ofwhich was seen upon the rock. The building was also called thetemple of Athena Pol
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