For a more minute account of this singular character, with a portrait of him, vide "Memoirs of the Lives of Ben jamin Lay and Ralph Sandiford," by Roberts Vaux.
and channels for supplying mills and reservoirs from the bed of the Hercyna, water is seen falling in all directions. Lebadea is celebrated for the Hieron of Trophonius, which is situated a few paces from the spot where the river Ilercyna issues from beneath a rock. None of the Grecian antiqui ties are better authenticated than this. An uncertainty, however, exists respecting the Adytum, or residence of the oracle, in consequence of the interior not having been explored in modern times. The narrow aperture, supposed to lead to the Adytum, is close to the ground, and is choak ed with stones and rubbish. Below the aperture, a fountain issues from several small pipes into a bath, paved with large hewn stones and pieces of marble, and which was used by those who came to consult the oracle.
The most sacred part of the Hieron, containing the en trance to the Adytum, and the niches for the dona votiva, is a perpendicular rock of black marble facing the east. The niches, which are 12 in number, are above the Adytum, and to the right and left of it, and have different shapes and magnitudes. The largest is an entire chamber of stone, containing a stone bench, which may have been the throne of Mnemosyne. This chamber is 5 feet 10 inches from the
ground, and the whole of it is hewn from the solid rock. It is 12 feet 8 inches long, 11 feet 3 inches wide, and 8 feet 8 inches high. The stone bench is 8 feet 9 inches long, 14 inches wide, and 18 inches high.
The fountain which we have mentioned, serves to sup ply the town of Lebadea with its best water.
Dr. Clarke ascended the citadel on the summit of the rock above the cave, and found there the capital of a large Corinthian pillar, of a rare variety. It was made of the hard black marble of the rocks upon which the citadel stands. Within the fortress he observed a few fragments of antiquity ; and in a mosque near it some inscriptions.
Lebadea has a considerable commerce in the produce of Attica, Bceotia, and Thessaly, and carries on a thriving export trade even to London, of corn, and cotton, and cur rant raisins, which it procures from Patras. The ancient Anticyra, now Aspropiti, is the port of Lebadea. The wine of Orchomenus is sold here, and is sometimes like the clearest spring water. The honey of Lebadea is sent to the Grand Signior's seraglio. Lebadea contains 1500 houses. A very full and interesting account of the cave of 'Tro phonius, with a drawing of it, will be found in Dr. E. D. Clarke's Travels, vol. iv. p. 125-136.