‘HOW THE LONG WALLS WENT
DOWN.

Tue retreat of the Persians from Athens left that
city without a wall or a home. On the return of
the Athenians, and the rebuilding of their ruined
homes, a new wall became a necessity, and, under
the wise advice of Themistocles, the citizens deter-
mined that the new wall should be much larger in
circuit than the old,—wide enough to hold all Attica
in case of war.

But no sooner was this begun than a protest arose
from rival states. The Spartans in particular raised
such a clamor on the subject that Themistocles went
to that city and denied that he was fortifying
Athens. If they did not believe him, they might
send there and see. They did so, and the Spartan
ambassadors, on arriving there, found the walls com-
pleted and themselves held as hostages for the safe
return of Themistocles. Not only Athens was thus
fortified, but a still stronger wall was built around
Pirzeus, the port, four miles away.

Years afterwards, when Athens was in a position
to defy the protest of Sparta, her famous Long
Walls were built, extending from the city to the
port, and forming a great artery through which the
food and products brought in ships from distant

lands could flow to the city from the sea, in defiance
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