Athens, the most celebrated state in Greece for philosophy, literature, and arms, was also the most celebrated for commerce.  The whole of the southern angle of Attica consisted of a district called Parali, or the division adjacent to the sea.  In the other districts of Attica, the soldiers of the republic were found:  this furnished the sailors; fishing and navigation were the chief employments of its inhabitants.  About 46 miles distant from the Piraeus, stood Sunium, the most considerable town in this district:  it possessed a double harbour in the Mediterranean.

The principal commerce of Attica, however, was carried on at Athens:  this city had three harbours:  the most ancient was that of Phalerum, distant from the city, according to some authors, 35 stadia; according to others only 20 stadia.  It was nearer Athens than the other two, but smaller, and less commodious.  Munichea was the name of the second harbour:  it was formed in a promontory not far distant from the Pirasus, a little to the east of Athens, and naturally a place of great strength; it was afterwards, at the instance of Thrasybulus, rendered still stronger by art.  But by far the most celebrated harbour of Athens was the Piraeus.  The republic of Athens, in order to concentrate its military and mercantile fleets in this harbour, abandoned that of Phalerum, and bent all their efforts to render the Piraeus as strong and commodious as possible.  This occurred in the time of Themistocles; by whose advice both the town and the harbour were inclosed with a wall, about seven miles and a half long, and sixty feet high.  Themistocles’ intention was to have made it eighty cubits high, but in this he was opposed.  Before this connecting wall was built, the Piraeus was about three miles distant from the city.  As the strength of the wall was of the utmost importance, it was built of immense square stones, which were fastened together with iron or leaden cramps.  It was so broad that two waggons could have been driven along it.  The Pireus contained three docks; the first called Cantharus, the second Aphrodisium, and the third Zea.  There were likewise five porticos, and two forums.  The Piraeus was so celebrated for its commerce, that it became a proverbial saying in Greece, “Famine does not come from the Piraeus.”  The extent and convenience of the Piraeus may be judged of from this circumstance, that under the demagogue Lycurgus, the whole naval force of the nation, amounting to 400 triremes, were safely and easily laid up in its three harbours.

Before the time of Themistocles, Athens does not appear to have devoted her attention or resources to maritime affairs:  but this celebrated general not only rendered the Piraeus stronger and more commodious, but also procured a decree, which enabled him to add twenty ships to the fleet annually.  The sums arising from the sale of the privileges of working the mines, or the eventual profits of the mines, which had formerly been distributed among the people, were,