File:Historical researches into the politics, intercourse, and trade of the principal nations of antiquity (1846) (14767149082).jpg

Identifier: historicalresea03heer (find matches)
Title: Historical researches into the politics, intercourse, and trade of the principal nations of antiquity
Year: 1846 (1840s)
Authors: Heeren, A. H. L. (Arnold Hermann Ludwig), 1760-1842 Talboys, David Alphonse, 1790-1840 Bancroft, George, 1800-1891
Subjects: Commerce History, Ancient
Publisher: London, H.G. Bohn
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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all indeed in the neighbourhood of the Libyan moun-tain-ridge, so that a large plain extends between it and the A remarkable fact respecting ancient Thebes is preserved in Steph. de Urb. under Aioa-•jroXi?. Before it was devastated by the Persians, it contained, according to Cato, 13,000streets (Koißuv) and seven millions of inhabitants. It was four hundred stadia in length, andoccupied 3700 acres of land. It is difficult to say how Cato comes to be mentioned here;since Stephanus no where else quotes a Roman writer. Perhaps the name may be corruptedfrom Kkütuio^, who is often quoted by Stephanus, and who had described Thebes. In thestatement the careless compiler has confounded the Thebais with Thebes; for others statethe number of its inhabitants at seven millions, and not that of the city. Diodor. i. p. 36. ^ The breadth of the river here is from seven hundred to eight hundred toises; it containsmany Islands, w liich, however, are without monuments, and probably of later origin.
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CHAP. III.) THEBES AND ITS MONUMENTS. 373 river, which probably was once filled up with private dwelling-houses. In proceeding from south to north we find : 1. The race-couise.^ The first object that here catches theeye, is the remains of a large race-course, at the southern ex-tremity of which stands a small temple ; there is, however, justby, a gate of such vast dimensions, that a much larger buildingmust once have stood here. The race-course is upwards of sixthousand Parisian feet in length, and three thousand in breadth ;its area amounting, according to the French calculation, toseven times as much as the Champ de Mars, near Paris(624,380 square toises) ; and consequently afforded amplespace for the exercise and review of a large army. The wholewas surrounded by an enclosure which forms at present no-thing more than a series of hills, among which the gates or in-lets may still be distinguished, of which there are reckonedthirty-nine, though their number perhaps altogether amounted

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