The Greeks worshipped their
gods without any visible representations of them until the time of Cecrops. The
most ancient of these representations consisted of square blocks of stone, upon
which the name of the deity intended to be represented was engraved. The first
attempts at sculpture were rude stocks, with a head at one end and a shapeless
trunk at the other, tapering slightly down to the feet, which, however, were
not divided, the limbs being in no way defined. But the artists of later times devoted
all their genius to the {191} successful production of the highest ideals of
their gods, some of which are preserved to this day, and are regarded as
examples of purest art.
On a pedestal in the centre of
the edifice stood the statue of the divinity to whom the temple was dedicated,
surrounded by images of other gods, all of which were fenced off by rails.
