DOI article:
Waldstein, Charles: [Excavations and discoveries at Eretria, 1891-1895]
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8681#0128
116
A TOPOGRAPHICAL STUDY OF ERETRIA.
side a perfect rectangle 1.4 X 0.8 m. in area. These stones are differ-
ent from any found elsewhere in the walls. This corner at h was
naturally the weakest spot in the fortifications of the citadel. Here to
the northeast is the highest portion of that ridge which connects the
solitary outlying spur, which the Eretrians used for their acropolis, with
the remaining foot-hills, offshoots of the Eubocan Olympus. Along
this ridge must havecome that road which entered theacropolis between
the gate-towers. Here an enemy Avould naturally attack, and here we
accordingly find plentiful evidences of rebuilding and repairing.
The line /g h terminates in a fine tower (plate ix) projecting
4.9 m. in the direction g h, and 8.7 m. wide. Beyond the tower, in a
continuation of the line g h, is a passage about 6 m. wide, beyond which
again projects, to a distance of 10.2 m., another tower, which is 13 m.
wide. The upper, the first mentioned of the two, is now 2.7 m. high,
the lower tower 3 m. high, measured on the down-hill side in each case;
while the up-hill sides are on a level with the earth at these points.
Here, also, the upper tower is plainly an addition to the older wall;
but a study of the lower easternmost one gives striking testimony that
both these structures were an afterthought. About 45 m. from h in
the line h k, the line k h divides, one branch going to h at the upper,
the other to the lower of the two gate-towers. The two branches are
apparently coincident in their time of building, and a small tower guards
the point of junction. They are of the same construction as the main
line of the acropolis-wall. Just before reaching its tower, the lower
branch makes a curious curve, as if to pass around it instead of join-
ing it directly. There is no appearance on the tower to indicate that
the Avail ever touched it. Unfortunately, from the point two or three
metres from the tower, where the curve begins, the height of the wall
falls away. Where it passes near the lower corner of the tower, only
the points of the stones of the foundations project above the surface.
This line is traceable completely around the lower side of this tower,
up to, and across, the passage between the two towers. This is indi-
cated by the dotted line on the hap. There is not room enough be-
tween the lower tower and the dotted lines to admit of a passage.
The dotted line across the entrance between the two towers cannot
possibly represent the remains of a wall extending across this space
after the time of the building of these two towers. Such a wall would
render this entrance to the acropolis useless. This dotted line, then,
stands for what can still be seen of the fortifications which were here
A TOPOGRAPHICAL STUDY OF ERETRIA.
side a perfect rectangle 1.4 X 0.8 m. in area. These stones are differ-
ent from any found elsewhere in the walls. This corner at h was
naturally the weakest spot in the fortifications of the citadel. Here to
the northeast is the highest portion of that ridge which connects the
solitary outlying spur, which the Eretrians used for their acropolis, with
the remaining foot-hills, offshoots of the Eubocan Olympus. Along
this ridge must havecome that road which entered theacropolis between
the gate-towers. Here an enemy Avould naturally attack, and here we
accordingly find plentiful evidences of rebuilding and repairing.
The line /g h terminates in a fine tower (plate ix) projecting
4.9 m. in the direction g h, and 8.7 m. wide. Beyond the tower, in a
continuation of the line g h, is a passage about 6 m. wide, beyond which
again projects, to a distance of 10.2 m., another tower, which is 13 m.
wide. The upper, the first mentioned of the two, is now 2.7 m. high,
the lower tower 3 m. high, measured on the down-hill side in each case;
while the up-hill sides are on a level with the earth at these points.
Here, also, the upper tower is plainly an addition to the older wall;
but a study of the lower easternmost one gives striking testimony that
both these structures were an afterthought. About 45 m. from h in
the line h k, the line k h divides, one branch going to h at the upper,
the other to the lower of the two gate-towers. The two branches are
apparently coincident in their time of building, and a small tower guards
the point of junction. They are of the same construction as the main
line of the acropolis-wall. Just before reaching its tower, the lower
branch makes a curious curve, as if to pass around it instead of join-
ing it directly. There is no appearance on the tower to indicate that
the Avail ever touched it. Unfortunately, from the point two or three
metres from the tower, where the curve begins, the height of the wall
falls away. Where it passes near the lower corner of the tower, only
the points of the stones of the foundations project above the surface.
This line is traceable completely around the lower side of this tower,
up to, and across, the passage between the two towers. This is indi-
cated by the dotted line on the hap. There is not room enough be-
tween the lower tower and the dotted lines to admit of a passage.
The dotted line across the entrance between the two towers cannot
possibly represent the remains of a wall extending across this space
after the time of the building of these two towers. Such a wall would
render this entrance to the acropolis useless. This dotted line, then,
stands for what can still be seen of the fortifications which were here