Greece, MOUNT HYMETTUS Athens Acropolis Temple Old LANDSCAPE Art Print Engraving

Description: ATHENS, FROM MOUNT HYMETTUS Artist: Wolfensberger ____________ Engraver: R. Brandard Note: the title in the table above is printed below the engraving CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE 19th CENTURY ANTIQUE PRINTS LIKE THIS ONE!! PRINT DATE: This engraving was printed in 1841; it is not a modern reproduction in any way. PRINT SIZE: Overall print size is 7 1/2 inches by 10 inches including white borders which are not shown in the scan above, the actual scene is 5 inches by 7 1/2 inches. PRINT CONDITION: Condition is excellent. Bright and clean. Blank on reverse. Paper is quality woven rag stock paper. SHIPPING: Buyer to pay shipping, domestic orders receives priority mail, international orders receive regular air mail unless otherwise asked for. We take a variety of payment options, more payment details will be in our email after auction close. We pack properly to protect your item! FROM THE ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION: "There flow'ry hill Hymettus, with the sound Of bee's industrious murmur, oft invites To studious musing; there Ilissus rolls His whispering stream." MILTOIT. Although the whole mountain-chain that extends to Sunium, and there subsides in the sea, is not unfrequently called Hymettian, yet the name more correctly belongs to that insulated hill that rises so conspicuously from the plain of Athens, and whose highest point commands the noblest panorama in ancient Greece. Seen from Athens, Hymettus presents a tame and regular outline, but, on a nearer examination, its eastern and western extremities will be found abrupt, precipitous, and rocky; its sides everywhere furrowed by rapid mountain-torrents; and numerous detached hills, comparatively diminished, surround its base, bearing on their summits some remnants of occupation, or of defensive military architecture. Towards the mountain's base occurs the green turf celebrated by the poets, but vegetation gradually disappears as the summit is approached, until at length total sterility and denudation alone occur. The heathens dedicated the glorious site of the sunny Hymettus to the worship of various deities; those who flourished in subsequent ages have raised around its fertile and fragrant pedestal, temples to the true God, such are the monastery of Saint John the Hunter, Asomatos, and those of Sergiani and Kareas. The last of these is not deserted, two monks continuing to reside there, and to extend, to the visitor of the Hymettian country, those hospitalities for which ancient Greece has been celebrated. Situated in a secluded glen, this little hospitium and sanctuary are unperceived by the approaching traveller, until he passes the range of hills encircling the great mountain, when suddenly a scene of surpassing loveliness is presented. The recess of a deep glen, a profound solitude, a spot deeply sequestered, overhung by rugged rocks, whose savage character is softened by groups of olives and pinea that spring up luxuriantly in their openmgs, is dedicated to the religions retirement of a sacred fraternity, and the occasional repose of the traveller. Here, an English tourist, a few years since, found two French ladies, with their children, comfortably lodged, having fled from Alexandria and the plague, to this refuge of the houseless. Above the convent is a quarry of grey marble, formerly worked to a great depth, and yielding a valuable trade to its proprietors, for, numerous majestic columns of this stone are still to be seen in Rome, where it appears to have been held in the highest estimation. Large blocks, and the shafts of stately pillars, lie scattered around the entrance of the hollow; and, from their time-worn appearance, ages must have rolled away since the sound of the mallet and chisel reverberated within these vast excavations. The Pentelic marble seems to have superseded that of Kareas, which is interspersed with green mica. The venerable tenants of the convent are employed, and chiefly support themselves by preparing oil and honey, both of which are allowed to possess superior qualities. Ancient writers have celebrated the praises of the honey and the flowers of Hymettus, while moderns laud its gum and its thyme. The excellence of these productions continues undiminished, and may reasonably be attributed to the variety and abundance of sweet-scented herbs that spring up amongst the rocks, and scatter their fragrance around. The honey of Attica is universally superior in quality, but that of Hymettus has always enjoyed a higher degree of estimation even in Greece; the monks almost sustain themselves by collecting it, and it is asserted that the best is obtained at the convents of Sergiani and Kareas. Honey is much used by the Greeks generally, that of Hymettus is said to possess inebriating properties, nearly as intoxicating as those of opium; it is an ingredient in all Athenian cookery; and an opinion has existed from time immemorial, that it confers longevity upon its consumers. Whatever reality or plausibility the last assertion may include, this of Dr. Chandler " that flies will never settle upon the honey of Hymettus on account of its thymy odour," is totally incorrect, for millions of these troublesome insects " with powerless wings around them," expire in its sweets in each revolving year. The story, however, is an old one, related by Pliny as applicable to the honey produced on Mount Carina in Crete; and is only one, of one hundred, narrated of the honey and the bees of Hymettus. Another traveller declares that the bees were formidably numerous, and stung him repeatedly, angry that he should have invaded their ancient solitary kingdom; while the Romaic name, which signifies the Mad Mountain, and the corresponding Italian name of Monte Matto, have probably some reference to the violence of the busy community. The view from the summit of Hymettus is amongst the most attractive objects to the visitor at Athens. Leaving the city through the Arch of Adrian, and passing to the southward of Mount Anchesmos, a good bridle-road across the plain conducts to the monastery of Sergiani, at the base of ii the mountain, about five miles from Athens. Here, amidst the olive-clothed rocks that encircle the convent, with its chapel and gardens, the famous Ilissus has its source. This clear and copious spring, enclosed by the most verdant turf, interspersed with hyacinths and crocuses, was formerly dedicated to Venus, and was placed under the tutelage of a fountain nymph. To this both maids and matroias replied, on the day peculiarly devoted to the goddess, and quaffed abundantly of the waters, in consequence of the supposed alleviation of suffering which they occasioned to the sex in the most eventful periods of their lives. And this is the fountain too, so famed in story, near to whose running waters, Cephalus slew his too fond and faithful Procis. From this elastic spot the way lies through thickets of aromatic shrubs and plants, affording the most delicious nourishment to the industrious bees, and imparting a peculiar flavour to their honey. Besides the productions already mentioned, the lentiscus, oleander, terebinth, cistus, juniper, sage, and squills, grow here in great luxuriance, until the arid and burning rocks, near to the summit, deny further support to vitality in any form or degree. "On mount Hymettus, that bright classic ground, Glowing with Nature's varied tints around, la a sequestered spot, a calm retreat For peace and heaven-born contemplation meet. Near to its purple heights a fountain flows, Whose sacred waters break the deep repose With murmuring music; here no lofty trees Frowning in forest gloom, obstruct the breeze, But the arbutus, and sweet rosemary, The varnished laurel, type of victory, And the dark myrtle, with its blossom fair, Cover the ground, and scent the balmy air. Nor is there wanting to this peaceful scene The foliage of the box-tree ever green, The tender tamarisk, laburnum fine, And of the graceful and majestic pine, While the soft turf, with smiling verdure drest, Invites the weary traveller to rest." The panoramic view, from the summit, is the most interesting in the world to the man of letters, the most extensive and beautiful in southern Europe, considered merely as a grand display of natural objects. Every remarkable place in Attica, celebrated in the military or literary history of that ancient country, is presented to the eye. Six of the Attic territories lie spread out as on a map, besides all those islands, and bays, and promontories, associated with the recollections of our youth, and the history of the most refined nation that ever existed. The placid and lucid atmosphere admitting of distinct vision to a distance of nearly one hundred miles, the isle of Chios is often enumerated amongst the hallowed lands distinguished from this lofty station. Nearer are seen the gulf of Salamis, the isthmus of Corinth, with its Acrocorinthus, and, lastly, at the distance of six miles, the immortal city, over which the Acropolis, with its venerable temples, rises in great majesty, a noble monument of Grecian refinement. It will not occasion the least fatigue, in a sky so clear, to trace the wanderings of the little Cephissus through the Athenian plain, which imagination will rapidly people with the shades of the philosophers and their disciples-to watch the winding course of the Ilissus-mark the sacred way that led to Eleusis-and view the triple harbour of the Piraeus, where no vestiges of the great double wall survive, to enable after-ages to measure the magnitude of the mischief, which Lysander, vindictively, inflicted upon the Athenians. Please note: the terms used in our auctions for engraving, etching, aquatint, lithograph, plate, photogravure etc. are ALL prints on paper, and NOT blocks of steel or wood or any other material. "ENGRAVINGS", the term commonly used for these paper prints, were the most common method in the 1700s and 1800s for illustrating old books, and these paper prints or "engravings" were created by the intaglio process of etching the negative of the image into a block of steel, copper, wood etc, and then when inked and pressed onto paper, a print image was created. These prints or engravings were usually inserted into books, although many were also printed and issued as loose stand alone lithographs. They often had a tissue guard or onion skin frontis to protect them from transferring their ink to the opposite page and were usually on much thicker quality woven rag stock paper than the regular prints. So this auction is for an antique paper print(s), probably from an old book, of very high quality and usually on very thick rag stock paper. A RARE FIND! AND GREAT DECORATION FOR YOUR OFFICE OR HOME WALL.

Price: 9.99 USD

Location: New Providence, New Jersey

End Time: 2024-02-28T18:39:27.000Z

Shipping Cost: 7.95 USD