THE GREEKS UNDER TURKISH BONDAGE. 1 55 years was looked upon and honored as the cus- tos of the ruins. While all the fearful destruction was going on in Greece the Acropolis of Athens had not been completely ruined. It appears as if even the barbarians had been charmed by the divine art. The edifice would have been much better preserved if Christian hands had not contributed to its ruin: the Venetian siege in 1687, Greek defence during the war of independence, and English vandalism. Lord Elgin, recalled from his post as ambassador to Constantinople, passed through Greece, and with Turkish permission deprived the temple of Minerva of its most beautiful ornament. All foreigners, foremost the Frenchmen, and even many Englishmen — Lord Byron more than anybody else — were furi- ous in their condemnation of such vandalism. The most touching reproach is contained in the Athenian tale : When one of the five Caryatides of the pandrosium was taken away the other four girls in the evening cried after their lost sister with painful woe, and the one who had been taken away answered them from the lower part of the city with similar cries of pain. The number of foreign guests increased. They all were filled with compassion when they
