(), an Athenian, whose name has become
celebrated by means of his beautiful choragic monument. The custom of giving a bronze tripod
as a prize to the choragus in the dramatic exhibitions, and of then dedicating the tripod to
some divinity, is described in the " Dictionary of Antiquities," s. v.
CHOREGIA. The most usual manner of dedicating the tripod was by
placing it on the summit of a small building erected for the express purpose of receiving it.
The choragic monument of Lysicrates is such an erection. From a square base arises a circular
building, consisting of six Corinthian columns, connected by a wall, and supporting a flat
cupola of one piece of marble, from the centre of which rises a beautiful flower-like
ornament, which spreads out at the summit so as to afford a base for the tripod, the marks of
which are still visible upon it. The details are of surpassing beauty, and can only be
appreciated from a good drawing. The best engraving, or rather set of engravings, of it are
given by Mauch (Neue Systematische Darstellung d. Architektonischen
Ordnungen, 3e Auflage, taf. 54-57). The following is the inscription on the
architrave:
Ἀκαμαντὶς
παίδων ἐνικα, Θέων ηὔλει,
Λυσιάδης Ἀθηναῖος ἐδιδασκε, Εὐαίνετος
ἦρχε
(Böckh, Corp. Inscr. 221.) The archonship of Evaenetus was in Ol.
111.2,
The building is vulgarly called the Lantern of Demosthenes, who is said to have erected it
with the object of studying in the seclusion of its interior. Not only is this tradition
unsupported by any authority, and disproved by the inscription, but it is clear that the
interior of the building, which is not quite six feet in diameter, was not applied to any use,
and had, in fact, no entrance. It is now open, having at some period been broken into,
probably in search of treasure. (Stuart and Revett, Antiquities of
Athens, vol. i. p. 139; Hirt, Geschichte d. Baukunst bei den Alten,
vol. ii. p. 26.)