Papers of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens (6.1890-1897 (1897))

216

EXCAVATIONS AT SPARTA.

and g h are cut along radii of the same circle. The radial
lines cross the circular ones exactly at the centre of the
raised circular faces. These lines doubtless served con-
structional purposes, probably to mark the central point
upon which a column was to be placed. The surface of the
stones about the circles is not smoothed, but has the appear-
ance of having been rudely broken and cracked away. Such

L-nUrfti TUn. e[ SUncs.

C- centre oj- tar8e crrtutt wall
C - Centre of ciTCfe cut on We

Upper surface, of bfoclxs \k
WslanjesoJinneT eaSt of stones
To centre, of targe circle, [cl

I \if i) £B

$ i?S a I*

* '-77 » lit

i) 7.17 '*»

E-3t<Ction of-Stone 4

gTOOVeoUT acrosv-Vlie. M>fer surface

Fig. 4.

a destruction is one that would naturally result while the
columns were still in situ if the soft poros stone were sub-
jected to violent usage; the portion about the columns
would be broken away while the surface upon which the
columns stood would be preserved. It is a curious coinci-
dence that within two yards of these blocks were found two
small Doric columns of white marble (.39 m. in diameter at