DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.748#0048
INVESTIGATIONS AT ASSOS, 1881. 37
the considerable remains of a building at the east, of the great
public place. Trenches determined the position of the walls,
and the general plan of these structures; but the limited
excavations could do no more than reconnoitre the field. No
carved fragments or inscriptions were met with upon the
terrace itself; but on digging at a lower level upon the east,
among the mediseval walls E E, the debris was found to con-
tain important antique remains. A number of inscriptions
came to light which must originally have stood as upright
slabs on the pedestals of trachyte still remaining upon the
parapet above.
Thus encouraged, we had all the earth lodged in the angle
formed by this lower terrace removed, and the subterranean
passage leading to the place before the portico freed from
debris. The ceiling beams of this passage had been broken,
and, falling in, had filled the space with their fragments ; the
bearings, however, remained in position upon the lateral walls,
illustrating the peculiar notched system of their jointing.
The steps at the eastern end apparently owe their present
awkward arrangement to a Christian reconstruction.
Close to the lower entrance, at C, Plate 3, there was found to
have been an important fountain, probably supplied from the
great reservoir before the stoa, and standing in immediate
connection with a vaulted cistern. The marble slab and
trough which once filled the niche had disappeared, only small
fragments of the latter being recognizable among the rubbish
in the vicinity; but the general arrangement of the water-
works could be easily traced.
The cistern, as will be seen, is remarkable for the accuracy
of its polygonal masonry as well as for certain peculiarities of
plan. Some six or seven metres below the surface, the earth
with which it had partly been filled was found to contain some
fragments of inscriptions and various water-jugs of Byzantine
the considerable remains of a building at the east, of the great
public place. Trenches determined the position of the walls,
and the general plan of these structures; but the limited
excavations could do no more than reconnoitre the field. No
carved fragments or inscriptions were met with upon the
terrace itself; but on digging at a lower level upon the east,
among the mediseval walls E E, the debris was found to con-
tain important antique remains. A number of inscriptions
came to light which must originally have stood as upright
slabs on the pedestals of trachyte still remaining upon the
parapet above.
Thus encouraged, we had all the earth lodged in the angle
formed by this lower terrace removed, and the subterranean
passage leading to the place before the portico freed from
debris. The ceiling beams of this passage had been broken,
and, falling in, had filled the space with their fragments ; the
bearings, however, remained in position upon the lateral walls,
illustrating the peculiar notched system of their jointing.
The steps at the eastern end apparently owe their present
awkward arrangement to a Christian reconstruction.
Close to the lower entrance, at C, Plate 3, there was found to
have been an important fountain, probably supplied from the
great reservoir before the stoa, and standing in immediate
connection with a vaulted cistern. The marble slab and
trough which once filled the niche had disappeared, only small
fragments of the latter being recognizable among the rubbish
in the vicinity; but the general arrangement of the water-
works could be easily traced.
The cistern, as will be seen, is remarkable for the accuracy
of its polygonal masonry as well as for certain peculiarities of
plan. Some six or seven metres below the surface, the earth
with which it had partly been filled was found to contain some
fragments of inscriptions and various water-jugs of Byzantine