Page:History of Art in Primitive Greece - Mycenian Art Vol 1.djvu/59

38 Primitive Greece: Mycenian Art. mean altitude. The whole land is made up of contrasts, thanks to lofty ranges which, close to the shore, rear their peaks towards the sky. A few hours' walk takes the tourist from the proximity of undying snow to the region of the beech and pine, to tracts where the lofty palm sways his head in the breeze, laden with fruit which in Messenia reaches perfection. The quality of the vegeta- tion is not the only factor in bringing about variety of aspect ; other features, equally distinct in their opposition, are due to the distribution of the waters. The bottom of the greater part of the ravines is nothing but stones and gravel rolled there, a yellow belt along which tamarisks and laurels grow in profusion ; but for this narrow green strip, which in June and July is dyed with red, no one would suspect the presence of a rill silently filtering through its pebbly bed. Elsewhere, however, on the western slopes of Hellas, are found clear torrents, which, like the Neda, abound in diminutive water-falls, amid oaks bent over the abyss ; others, such as the Ladon, flow with full stream, beneath the deep shade of ancient planes whose branches stretch in an intricate entwine from bank to bank. Progress is sometimes impeded by such rivers as the Achelous and Alphaeus, which cannot be forded even in summer ; whilst Peloponnesus owns a lake, the Phenaeus at the foot of Cyll^n^, which in small calls up to mind the Swiss lakes. Nevertheless water is scarce and of inestimable value, and serves to explain the worship offered to nymphs that presided over springs, and why plastic art was at pains to lend them a form whose beauty should answer to the honours that were paid to them.^ Hence the endless disputes to which the smallest thread- of running water gave rise among the Greeks ; to prevent which charters, regulating the division of the priceless liquid between the land-owners, were drawn up and placed under the authority of the law. The twenty-four hours of the day and night were divided and apportioned between the proprietors, and severe penalties ^ Scores of small Hellenic towns suffered in the dry season. Prudential considerations had counselled their remaining on hill-tops ; the nearest spring was often at a considerable distance in the valley below, whence the precious liquid had to be fetched in amphorae carried on the shoulder, descending or ascending a steep mountain path or steps cut in the rock. When the dwellers of these towns were cut off from spring water by an enemy encamped before their walls, they had to put up with the brackish water of wells or cisterns, which were apt to dry up after a short time when the winter rains had been scanty.