these objects,
which they comprehended within the limits of the sacred inclosure. These
melancholy recesses were esteemed the places of the highest sanctity: and
so greatly did this notion prevail, that, in aftertimes, when this practice
had ceased, still the innermost part of the temple was denominated the
_cavern_. Hence the Scholiast upon Lycophron interprets the words [Greek:
par' antra] in the poet, [662][Greek: Tous esotatous topous tou naou]. _The
cavern is the innermost place of the temple_. Pausanias, speaking of a
cavern in Phocis, says, that it was particularly sacred to Aphrodite.
[663][Greek: Aphrodite d' echei en spelaioi timas.] _In this cavern divine
honours were paid to Aphrodite._ Parnassus was rendered holy for nothing
more than for these unpromising circumstances. [Greek: Hieroprepes ho
Parnassos, echon antra te kai alla choria timomena te, kai,
hagisteuomena.][664] _The mountain of Parnassus is a place of great
reverence; having many caverns, and other detached spots, highly honoured
and sanctified_. At Taenarus was a temple with a fearful aperture, through
which it was fabled that Hercules dragged to light the dog of hell. The
cave itself seems to have been the temple; for it is said, [665][Greek: Epi
tei akrai Naos eikasmenos spelaioi.] _Upon the top of the promontory stands
a temple, in appearance like a cavern_. The situation of Delphi seems to
have been determined on account of a mighty chasm in the hill, [666][Greek:
ontos chasmatos en toi topoi]: and Apollo is said to have chosen it for an
oracular shrine, on account of the effluvia which from thence proceeded.

[667]Ut vidit Paean vastos telluris hiatus
Divinam spirare fidem, ventosque loquaces
Exhalare solum, sacris se condidit antris,
Incubuitque adyto: vates ibi factus Apollo.

Here also was the temple of the [668]Muses, which stood close upon a
reeking stream. But, what rendered Delphi more remarkable, and more
reverenced, was the Corycian cave, which lay between that hill and
Parnassus. It went under ground a great way: and Pausanias, who made it his
particular business to visit places of this nature, says, _that it was the
most extraordinary of any which he ever beheld_. [669][Greek: Antron
Korukion spelaion, hon eidon, theas axion malista.] There were many caves
styled Corycian: one in Cilicia, mentioned by Stephanus Byzantinus from
Parthenius, who speaks of a city of the same name: [Greek: Par' hei to
Korukion antron Numpho