Shepherds and Their Flocks on the Argive Plain, Greece
One third of the land of Greece is in pasture and meadow. Most of the pasture area is stony upland, not fit to cultivate. Sheep, goats, horses, mules, cattle, and hogs are herded in the pastures. Sheep and goats are the most important of these. The country contains about 3½ million sheep, and 2½ million goats. Such a scene as the one you observe is common. On the wind-swept plains the shepherds herd their small flocks. In the summer their garb is the usual belted tunic and breeches, made of cloth. Their caps are kerchiefs tied under the chin. In the winter their coats are often of sheepskin, with the wool turned inside. The Gulf of Corinth cuts the peninsula (pn-n´ s-lå) of Greece almost in two. The parts are actually severed now by a ship canal. The southern portion is called the Peloponnesus (pl´ -p-n´ ss). The chief city of this section in ancient days was Sparta. It was a strong rival of Athens for the control of the country. The scene here shown is about half way between Sparta and Athens, near Argos. Argos is now a small city of 12,000 people. In the very early history of Greece it figured as one of the chief city-states. For a time it was a stronger power than Sparta, and controlled the northern part of the Peloponnesus. It was the parent city of many little city-kingdoms, Corinth being one of these. It waged war on Sparta many times, and was gradually overcome. It became a part of the Roman Empire, 146 B. C. The word "Argos," signifying "plain," was formerly applied to the country about, as well as to the city itself. It is from this word that "Argive" comes, the name now given the plain which you are viewing. Keystone ID: 7171 Note: All titles, descriptions, and location coordinates are from the original Keystone Slide documentation as supplied by the Keystone View Company. No text has been edited or changed.