. Dictionary of Greek and Roman geography . was to the sight of fallencities, the ruined condition of Megalopolis appears tohave particularly impressed him, and gave rise tothe reflections which he has inserted after his de-scription of the city (viii. 33). Megalopolis wasthe birthplace of Philopoemen, and of the historianPolybius. Megalopolis was situated in the middle of a plain,and, unlike the generality of Grecian cities, possessedno height, which might be converted into an acro-polis. Mantineia, which was also rebuilt about thesame time, was placed in a level situation, instead ofits old
. Dictionary of Greek and Roman geography . was to the sight of fallencities, the ruined condition of Megalopolis appears tohave particularly impressed him, and gave rise tothe reflections which he has inserted after his de-scription of the city (viii. 33). Megalopolis wasthe birthplace of Philopoemen, and of the historianPolybius. Megalopolis was situated in the middle of a plain,and, unlike the generality of Grecian cities, possessedno height, which might be converted into an acro-polis. Mantineia, which was also rebuilt about thesame time, was placed in a level situation, instead ofits old position upon a hill. A level situation ap-pears to have been chosen as more convenient for alarge population than the rocky heights upon whichthe old Greek cities were built; while the improve-ments which had been made in the art of fortifyingcities enabled their inhabitants to dispense withnatural defences. The city lay upon either bank of-the Helisson, which flowed through it from east towest, and divided it into nearly two equal KUIN8 OF MEGALOPOLIS. A A. Orestia. BB. The Helisson. C. Theatre. D. Stadium. E. Thersiliura. F. Agora. G. Temple of Athena Temple of Hera Teleia. I. The Bathjllus. The Helisson flows into the Alpheius about 2£English miles from the city. The southern half ofthe city was called Okestia (Opeo-ria), from anancient settlement of the Maenalians upon this spot.(Steph. B. s. v. MeydXri no\ts.) The ruins of Me- MEGALOPOLlS. galopolis are near the modern village of Slndnu ; butalmost all trace of the walls has disappeared, be-cause they were probably built, like those of Man-tineia (Xen. Hell. v. 2. § 5 ; Paus. viii. 8. § 5), ofunburn! bricks. Pausanias has given a particulardescription of the public buildings (viii. 30—32), thesite of some of which may still be fixed by the exist-ing remains. The two most important buildings werethe theatre, on the left or southern side of the river,and the Agora on the right. The colossal remains of
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