The Curse of Minerva – The Parthenon Thru Time

Slow sinks, more lovely ere his race be run,

Along Morea’s hills the setting sun;

Not, as in northern climes, obscurely bright,

But one unclouded blaze of living light;

O’er the hush’d deep the yellow beam he throws,

Gilds the green wave that trembles as it glows;

On old Aegina’s rock and Hydra’s isle

The god of gladness shed his parting smile’

O’er his own regions lingering loves to shine,

Though there his altars are no more divine.

Descending fast, the mountain-shadows kiss

Thy glorious gulf, unconquer’d Salamis!

Their azure arches through the long expanse

More deeply purpled, meet his mellowing glance,

And tenderest tints, along their summits driven,

Mark his gay course, and own the hues of heaven;

Till darkly shaded from the land and deep,

Behind his Delphian rock he sinks to sleep. …….

– Lord Byron, 1811