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colour to please the eye； and to be a natural source of delight。 The
entire circuit of the wall； which went round the outermost zone； they
covered with a coating of brass； and the circuit of the next wall they
coated with tin； and the third； which encompassed the citadel； flashed with
the red light of orichalcum。 The palaces in the interior of the citadel
were constructed on this wise：In the centre was a holy temple dedicated
to Cleito and Poseidon； which remained inaccessible； and was surrounded by
an enclosure of gold； this was the spot where the family of the ten princes
first saw the light； and thither the people annually brought the fruits of
the earth in their season from all the ten portions； to be an offering to
each of the ten。 Here was Poseidon's own temple which was a stadium in
length； and half a stadium in width； and of a proportionate height； having
a strange barbaric appearance。 All the outside of the temple； with the
exception of the pinnacles； they covered with silver； and the pinnacles
with gold。 In the interior of the temple the roof was of ivory； curiously
wrought everywhere with gold and silver and orichalcum； and all the other
parts； the walls and pillars and floor； they coated with orichalcum。 In
the temple they placed statues of gold： there was the god himself standing
in a chariotthe charioteer of six winged horsesand of such a size that
he touched the roof of the building with his head； around him there were a
hundred Nereids riding on dolphins； for such was thought to be the number
of them by the men of those days。 There were also in the interior of the
temple other images which had been dedicated by private persons。 And
around the temple on the outside were placed statues of gold of all the
descendants of the ten kings and of their wives； and there were many other
great offerings of kings and of private persons； coming both from the city
itself and from the foreign cities over which they held sway。 There was an
altar too； which in size and workmanship corresponded to this magnificence；
and the palaces； in like manner； answered to the greatness of the kingdom
and the glory of the temple。
In the next place； they had fountains； one of cold and another of hot
water； in gracious plenty flowing； and they were wonderfully adapted for
use by reason of the pleasantness and excellence of their waters。 They
constructed buildings about them and planted suitable trees； also they made
cisterns； some open to the heaven； others roofed over； to be used in winter
as warm baths； there were the kings' baths； and the baths of private
persons； which were kept apart； and there were separate baths for women；
and for horses and cattle； and to each of them they gave as much adornment
as was suitable。 Of the water which ran off they carried some to the grove
of Poseidon； where were growing all manner of trees of wonderful height and
beauty； owing to the excellence of the soil； while the remainder was
conveyed by aqueducts along the bridges to the outer circles； and there
were many temples built and dedicated to many gods； also gardens and places
of exercise； some for men； and others for horses in both of the two islands
formed by the zones； and in the centre of the larger of the two there was
set apart a race…course of a stadium in width； and in length allowed to
extend all round the island； for horses to race in。 Also there were guard…
houses at intervals for the guards； the more trusted of whom were appointed
to keep watch in the lesser zone； which was nearer the Acropolis； while the
most trusted of all had houses given them within the citadel； near the
persons of the kings。 The docks were full of triremes and naval stores；
and all things were quite ready for use。 Enough of the plan of the royal
palace。
Leaving the palace and passing out across the three harbours； you came to a
wall which began at the sea and went all round： this was everywhere
distant fifty stadia from the largest zone or harbour； and enclosed the
whole； the ends meeting at the mouth of the channel which led to the sea。
The entire area was densely crowded with habitations； and the canal and the
largest of the harbours were full of vessels and merchants coming from all
parts； who； from their numbers； kept up a multitudinous sound of human
voices； and din and clatter of all sorts night and day。
I have described the city and the environs of the ancient palace nearly in
the words of Solon； and now I must endeavour to represent to you the nature
and arrangement of the rest of the land。 The whole country was said by him
to be very lofty and precipitous on the side of the sea； but the country
immediately about and surrounding the city was a level plain； itself
surrounded by mountains which descended towards the sea； it was smooth and
even； and of an oblong shape； extending in one direction three thousand
stadia； but across the centre inland it was two thousand stadia。 This part
of the island looked towards the south； and was sheltered from the north。
The surrounding mountains were celebrated for their number and size and
beauty； far beyond any which still exist； having in them also many wealthy
villages of country folk； and rivers； and lakes； and meadows supplying food
enough for every animal； wild or tame； and much wood of various sorts；
abundant for each and every kind of work。
I will now describe the plain； as it was fashioned by nature and by the
labours of many generations of kings through long ages。 It was for the
most part rectangular and oblong； and where falling out of the straight
line followed the circular ditch。 The depth； and width； and length of this
ditch were incredible； and gave the impression that a work of such extent；
in addition to so many others； could never have been artificial。
Nevertheless I must say what I was told。 It was excavated to the depth of
a hundred feet； and its breadth was a stadium everywhere； it was carried
round the whole of the plain； and was ten thousand stadia in length。 It
received the streams which came down from the mountains； and winding round
the plain and meeting at the city； was there let off into the sea。 Further
inland； likewise； straight canals of a hundred feet in width were cut from
it through the plain； and again let off into the ditch leading to the sea：
these canals were at intervals of a hundred stadia； and by them they
brought down the wood from the mountains to the city； and conveyed the
fruits of the earth in ships； cutting transverse passages from one canal
into another； and to the city。 Twice in the year they gathered the fruits
of the earthin winter having the benefit of the rains of heaven； and in
summer the water which the land supplied by introducing streams from the
canals。
As to the population； each of the lots in the plain had to find a leader
for the men who were fit for military service； and the size of a lot was a
square of ten stadia each way； and the total number of all the lots was
sixty thousand。 And of the inhabitants of the mountains and of the rest of
the country there was also a vast multitude； which was distributed among
the lots and had leaders assigned to them according to their districts and
villages。 The leader was required to furnish for the war the sixth portion
of a war…chariot； so as to make up a total of ten thousand chariots； also
two horses and riders for them； and a pair of chariot…horses without a
seat； accompanied by a horseman who could fight on foot carrying a small
shield； and having a charioteer who stood behind the man…at…arms to guide
the two horses； also； he was bound to furnish two heavy…armed soldiers； two
archers； two slingers； three stone…shooters and three javelin…men； who were
light…armed； and four sailors to make up the complement of twelve hundred
ships。 Such was the military order of the royal citythe order of the
other nine governments varied； and it would be wearisome to recount their
several differences。
As to offices and honours； the following was the arrangement from the
first。 Each of the ten kings in his own division and in his own city had
the absolute control of the citizens； and； in most cases； of the laws；
punishing and slaying whomsoever he would。 Now the order of precedence
among them and their mutual relations were regulated by the commands of
Poseidon which the law had handed down。 These were inscribed by the first
kings on a pillar of orichalcum； which