DOI article:
Sterrett, John R. Sitlington: The Wolfe expedition to Asia Minor
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8680#0178
THE WOLFE EXPEDITION
The measurements of the lions are: height of lions, 2.0 m. ;
relief of the lions, 0.60 m.; breadth of breast of lions, 0.78 m.j
from bottom of the feet to bottom of the breast of lions, 0.48 m.;
from bottom of breast to bottom of chin, 0.70 m.; from bottom of
chin to top of head, 0.87 m.; width of top of head, 0.78 m.
At Tchaush, a village about one hour distant from Fassiller, I
bought a circular seal, which is engraved on the two convex sides,
and has the string-hole, as in Assyrian and Babylonian cylinder seals.
The stone is soft, the workmanship rude, but the seal is of undoubted
antiquity. On the one side it is not easy to make out what the
original design was; but the other side is distinct, and represents in
rude intaglio the figure of a man with an ox's head, and shoes with
turned-up toes. Around about this figure are various symbols un-
known to me.
From this description of the Stele and the seal it will be seen
that we have to do with elements and attitudes already familiar in
Hittite or Cappadocian art: a person supporting another one on his
head ; the high tiara; lions grouped along with men. The character
of the seal and the pointed shoes of the ox-headed man seem to
make it clear that it is a work of the same civilization and the same
art as the Stele.
These facts make it clear that Fassiller is the site of a prehistoric city.
That at a later date the site was occupied by a Greek town of
importance may be argued from the following considerations. Im-
mediately opposite the Stele, scarcely fifty yards distant, is a vaulted
niche dug out of the living rock; on either side of the niche are
unfluted Corinthian columns supporting the vault. Immediately on
the right of the niche, from the standpoint of the spectator, is the
life-size figure of a magnificent and highly caparisoned horse, facing
the niche. His right forefoot is raised; he bows his neck and
champs the bit. On the arch of the niche is
No. 274.
AOYKIANOC
and below the niche is
H P Ul C TT P 0 r.AMIOC
The measurements of the lions are: height of lions, 2.0 m. ;
relief of the lions, 0.60 m.; breadth of breast of lions, 0.78 m.j
from bottom of the feet to bottom of the breast of lions, 0.48 m.;
from bottom of breast to bottom of chin, 0.70 m.; from bottom of
chin to top of head, 0.87 m.; width of top of head, 0.78 m.
At Tchaush, a village about one hour distant from Fassiller, I
bought a circular seal, which is engraved on the two convex sides,
and has the string-hole, as in Assyrian and Babylonian cylinder seals.
The stone is soft, the workmanship rude, but the seal is of undoubted
antiquity. On the one side it is not easy to make out what the
original design was; but the other side is distinct, and represents in
rude intaglio the figure of a man with an ox's head, and shoes with
turned-up toes. Around about this figure are various symbols un-
known to me.
From this description of the Stele and the seal it will be seen
that we have to do with elements and attitudes already familiar in
Hittite or Cappadocian art: a person supporting another one on his
head ; the high tiara; lions grouped along with men. The character
of the seal and the pointed shoes of the ox-headed man seem to
make it clear that it is a work of the same civilization and the same
art as the Stele.
These facts make it clear that Fassiller is the site of a prehistoric city.
That at a later date the site was occupied by a Greek town of
importance may be argued from the following considerations. Im-
mediately opposite the Stele, scarcely fifty yards distant, is a vaulted
niche dug out of the living rock; on either side of the niche are
unfluted Corinthian columns supporting the vault. Immediately on
the right of the niche, from the standpoint of the spectator, is the
life-size figure of a magnificent and highly caparisoned horse, facing
the niche. His right forefoot is raised; he bows his neck and
champs the bit. On the arch of the niche is
No. 274.
AOYKIANOC
and below the niche is
H P Ul C TT P 0 r.AMIOC