29S Route 35. SYRACUSE. Greek Theatre.
Latomie). It is related of Hiero II. that he erected an altar, a
stadium (furlong) in length, and this structure is probably the
same, being 640 ft. in length and 74 ft. in width. Here, it is
believed, the hecatombs of 450 oxen were sacrificed, which were
annually offered in commemoration of the expulsion of the tyrant
Thrasybulus.
Turning to the r. the road next leads beneath the aqueduct
to the ** Greek Theatre. This was the largest Greek structure
of the kind, after those of Miletus and Megalopolis, and was
erected between 480 and 406. It is hewn in the rock in a
nearly semicircular form, 486 ft. in diameter. Distinct traces of
the 46 tiers of seats are still visible, and it is estimated that
15 more must have extended as far as the summit of the ex¬
cavation. The 9 cunei were intersected by a broad and a narrow
priccinctio, on the former of which various Greek inscriptions
are seen, recording the names of King Hiero, and the Queens
Philistis and Nereis, and of Zeus Olympius, from whom the
appellations of the different compartments were derived. Philistis
was, as is supposed, the second wife of Hiero I., and Nereis his
daughter-in-law. The eleven lower grades only were covered with
marble. Above the theatre is the Nymphaeum, a grotto into
which two water-conduits issue. Epitaphs were formerly inserted
in the sunounding walls. To tlie N. is the entrance to the last
sinuosity of the Ear of Dionysius (see above).
From the Nymph<eum the rock-hewn Street of the Tombs di¬
verges. In tlie sides are numerous cavities and tomb-chambers,
all of which have been despoiled of their contents and decorations.
The traveller should follow this route to the summit of the pla¬
teau , and then proceed to the 1. along the aqueduct in the di¬
rection of an extensive, uncompleted edifice. Beyond the latter
a broad and rugged bridle-path is followed to the 1. : it soon
dwindles to a mere footpath and leads (generally skirting the an¬
cient conduit) in l'/4 hr. to the fort of Euryalus. To the 1.
in the plain lay the Roman Neapolis, with the sumptuous temples
of Demeter and Persephone , erected by Gelon in 480 with the
proceeds of spoil taken from the Carthaginians. In the height
which is now traversed were situated the ancient Neapolis and
Temenites. Within the latter stood the Temenos of Apollo, with
a statue of the god, which Verres attempted to carry off, and
which was subsequently conveyed to Rome by Tiberius. About
2 M. farther the traveller crosses the walls which appertained to
the Epipola:, situated on the higher ground on the r. , and on
arriving at the AV. extremity of the city ascends to the Fort of
*Euryalus, the point where the X. and S. walls erected by
Dionysius on the table-land converged. It forms the extremity
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