DOI issue:
Heft 4
DOI article:Paton, W. R.; Dörpfeld, Wilhelm [Contr.]: Note on Arconnesos
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.38033#0483
W. R. PATON, NOTE ON ARCONNESOS
467
The Southern slopes of the island, although generally less
abrupt than the northern, are less thickly wooded. The arbu-
tus and its fellow, the adraklia, do not grovv here and the
pines do not venture across the ridge. Near the Panagia [B)
on the N. side and near the Kato-mandra (E) on the S. there
is a certain amount of land on which crops of barley are
raised. It is improbable, that much grain was ever produced
on the island, as the slopes are too steep. Doubtless oil and
wine were its chief products. At present, if we except the little
grain and oil it yields, it ranks as rough pasture for goats
and sheep.
The most important physical feature of the island is a hot
spring {F), which issues from the rock in a small cave a few
feet above the sea-level and is in great request for rheumatism
and other ills, and not only, it seems for the ills of human
beings but for those of seals, who are constant inmates and
seriously disturb and frighten human patients. The tempera-
ture of the water is (I am told) ‘28 where it issues from the
rock, but at its true source it boils; for there is a fissure in
the rock about 200 feet above the spring from which steam
comes. 1 have no analysis of the water. It is said to resemble
in quality and virtue the hot spring of Cos (on the S. side of
the island), which also issues from the rock a few feet above
the sea, but is less accessible than that of Arconnesus and
therefore less frequented.
The temenos (A) described belowr by Mr. Üörpfeld is situa-
ted almost directly above tliis healing spring, it would how-
ever be unwise to assume, that its site has been chosen for this
reason alone. There can be no doubt that it was chosen partly
because of its natural defence, a precipice of more than 100
feet in height on the N. E.* 1 The only other site on the island
1 As regards the use of natural defence in this part of Asia Minor I should
classify it as follows :
1) Λ site is selected which is suitable for residence and is to some extent
naturally fortified by precipices. 7) a site is selected which is of strategical
467
The Southern slopes of the island, although generally less
abrupt than the northern, are less thickly wooded. The arbu-
tus and its fellow, the adraklia, do not grovv here and the
pines do not venture across the ridge. Near the Panagia [B)
on the N. side and near the Kato-mandra (E) on the S. there
is a certain amount of land on which crops of barley are
raised. It is improbable, that much grain was ever produced
on the island, as the slopes are too steep. Doubtless oil and
wine were its chief products. At present, if we except the little
grain and oil it yields, it ranks as rough pasture for goats
and sheep.
The most important physical feature of the island is a hot
spring {F), which issues from the rock in a small cave a few
feet above the sea-level and is in great request for rheumatism
and other ills, and not only, it seems for the ills of human
beings but for those of seals, who are constant inmates and
seriously disturb and frighten human patients. The tempera-
ture of the water is (I am told) ‘28 where it issues from the
rock, but at its true source it boils; for there is a fissure in
the rock about 200 feet above the spring from which steam
comes. 1 have no analysis of the water. It is said to resemble
in quality and virtue the hot spring of Cos (on the S. side of
the island), which also issues from the rock a few feet above
the sea, but is less accessible than that of Arconnesus and
therefore less frequented.
The temenos (A) described belowr by Mr. Üörpfeld is situa-
ted almost directly above tliis healing spring, it would how-
ever be unwise to assume, that its site has been chosen for this
reason alone. There can be no doubt that it was chosen partly
because of its natural defence, a precipice of more than 100
feet in height on the N. E.* 1 The only other site on the island
1 As regards the use of natural defence in this part of Asia Minor I should
classify it as follows :
1) Λ site is selected which is suitable for residence and is to some extent
naturally fortified by precipices. 7) a site is selected which is of strategical