This city, situated in Arcadia, had one of the most illustrious persons
of ancient times for its founder, Epaminondas. Its population was
collected from various small cities and towns of Arcadia.
Soon after its establishment, the inhabitants sent to Plato for a code
of laws. The philosopher was much pleased with so flattering an offer;
but he ultimately declined sending them one, because he learned from a
disciple, whom he had sent to Megalopolis, that the inhabitants would
never consent to an equality of property.
In 232 B.C., Megalopolis joined the Achaian league, and was taken and
ruined by Cleomenes. At that period it was as large a city as Sparta.
Its most valuable paintings and sculptures were conveyed to the Laconian
capital, and great part of the city destroyed.
The Athenians, soon after, beginning to see the impropriety of not
keeping up the balance of power in Greece, Demosthenes signalised
himself greatly in endeavouring to persuade them to take part with the
Megalopolitans. "It has been a perpetual maxim with us," said he, "to
assist the oppressed against the oppressor. We have never varied from
this principle. The reproach of changing, therefore, ought not to fall
upon us, but upon those whose injustice and usurpation oblige us to
declare against them."
"I admire the language of politicians," says Rollin. "To hear them talk,
it is always reason and the strictest justice that determine them; but
to see them act, makes it evident that interest and ambition are the
sole rule and guide of their conduct. Their discourse is an effect of
that regard for justice, which nature has implanted on the mind of man,
and which they cannot entirely shake off. There are few that venture to
declare against that internal principle in their expressions, or to
contradict it openly. But there are also few who observe it with
fidelity and constancy in their actions. Greece never was known to have
more treaties of alliance than at the time we are now speaking of, nor
were they ever less regarded. This contempt of religion, of oaths in
states, is a proof of their decline, and often denotes and occasions
their approaching ruin." The Athenians, moved by the eloquent discourse
of Demosthenes, sent three thousand foot and three hundred horse to the
aid of Pamanes. Megalopolis was reinstated in its former condition; and
the inhabitants, who had retired into their own countries, were obliged
to return.
Anacharsis, from whose travels we have gleaned so many interesting
anecdotes, says:--"A small river, called the Helisson, divides the city
into two parts, in both of which houses and public edifices have been
built, and are still building. That to the north contains a tower,
enclosed by a stone balustrade, and surrounded by some edifices and
porticoes. A superb bronze statue of Apollo, twelve feet high, has been
erected facing the temple of Jupiter. This statue is a present from the
Philagians, who contributed with pleasure to the embellishments of the
new city. Some private individuals have done the same. One of the
porticoes bears the name of Aristander, who caused it to be built at his
own expense. In the part to the south we saw a spacious edifice, in
which is held the assembly of the ten thousand deputies, appointed to
conduct the important affairs of the state. The city contains a great
number of statues; among others, we saw the work of two Athenian
artists, Cephisodorus and Xenophon, consisting of a group, in which
Jupiter is represented, seated on a throne, with the city of Megalopolis
in his right hand, and Diana Conservatrix on his left. The marble of
which it is made is the production of the quarries of Mount Pentelicus,
near Athens.
The theatre at Megalopolis was the largest in Greece. The circular part
still remains; but the seats are covered with earth and overgrown with
bushes. Part of the walls of the proscenium are also seen facing the
Helisson, a small but rapid river, which flows a few yards to the east.
The remains of the temples are dubious; some masses of walls and
scattered blocks of columns indicate their situations; without
indicating the divinities to whose worship they were consecrated. The
soil being much raised, Mr. Dodwell thinks that it may conceal several
remains of the city.
There are several other ruins at the distance of a few miles from
Megalopolis, which recent travellers have not been able to visit on
account of the troubles which have lately prevailed in almost every part
of the Morea[352].