TEMPLE OF MINERVA,

CAPE COLONNA.

Drawn by J. M. W. Turner, R.A. from a Sketch by T. Allason, Esq.

"Tritonia's airy shrine adorns

Colonna's cliff, and gleams along the wave."

Childe Harold, canto ii. st. 86.

"THE promontory of Sunium was anciently decorated with two temples; one of Minerva Sunias, and the other of Neptune Suniaratos. The peripteral temple which yet remains is generally supposed to be that of Minerva.

"It is elevated upon three steps, and possessed originally six columns in front, and probably thirteen on each side, composed of white marble, resembling that of Thorikos, and in all probability brought from that place. The metopa, which are ornamented with bas-reliefs, are apparently from the Parian quarries. In the time of Spon there were nineteen columns standing. The Abbé Tourmont says, that in his time there were seventeen. Le Roy has represented two antæ and two columns at the eastern front, four columns on the north side, and seven on the south side. The