DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.748#0058
46 ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE.
foundations of the temple, and twice raised the heavy carved
blocks which had been left, face downwards, on beds of fine
earth, setting them up as targets for stones. Although this
stoning was rather the result of wantonness than of malice,
and prompt intervention allowed no time for noticeable dam-
age, the occurrence caused a constant fear that so long as the
sculptures remained upon the ground they might be defaced.
The slightest injury would have been irreparable, and until
the means of transport were obtained a watch was stationed
to guard the discoveries.
Among the articles soon after brought from Pergamon was
a sledge, which had been built by Dr. Humann for the purpose
of removing heavy stones from the mighty citadel of that
royal town to the roads practicable for wagons. Upon this
the reliefs found by the present Expedition were securely
bound and dragged down the steep slopes of the Assos
Acropolis to the sea, by the whole gang of workmen.
It has been mentioned that the track formed by the Turkish
soldiers in their work of destruction was utilized in the prepa-
ration of the road for the sledge; yet there still remained,
especially in the upper course, many gullies to be filled up,
and enormous blocks of the thickly strewn ruins to be thrown
aside. The road descended in a tolerably direct course from
the summit of the Acropolis to the port; but so great was the
exertion required, that the transport of the smallest sculp-
tured blocks could not be effected in less than two hours and
a half. Like the laborers represented upon Egyptian and As-
syrian reliefs as moving gigantic statues, the men at Assos
pulled upon either side of two long and heavy ropes, while
the weight was started from behind by levers; and, as was
customary five thousand years ago, shouting and the clapping
of hands formed an obligatory accompaniment. Facilitated
as it was by the steepness of the track, the noisy exciting
foundations of the temple, and twice raised the heavy carved
blocks which had been left, face downwards, on beds of fine
earth, setting them up as targets for stones. Although this
stoning was rather the result of wantonness than of malice,
and prompt intervention allowed no time for noticeable dam-
age, the occurrence caused a constant fear that so long as the
sculptures remained upon the ground they might be defaced.
The slightest injury would have been irreparable, and until
the means of transport were obtained a watch was stationed
to guard the discoveries.
Among the articles soon after brought from Pergamon was
a sledge, which had been built by Dr. Humann for the purpose
of removing heavy stones from the mighty citadel of that
royal town to the roads practicable for wagons. Upon this
the reliefs found by the present Expedition were securely
bound and dragged down the steep slopes of the Assos
Acropolis to the sea, by the whole gang of workmen.
It has been mentioned that the track formed by the Turkish
soldiers in their work of destruction was utilized in the prepa-
ration of the road for the sledge; yet there still remained,
especially in the upper course, many gullies to be filled up,
and enormous blocks of the thickly strewn ruins to be thrown
aside. The road descended in a tolerably direct course from
the summit of the Acropolis to the port; but so great was the
exertion required, that the transport of the smallest sculp-
tured blocks could not be effected in less than two hours and
a half. Like the laborers represented upon Egyptian and As-
syrian reliefs as moving gigantic statues, the men at Assos
pulled upon either side of two long and heavy ropes, while
the weight was started from behind by levers; and, as was
customary five thousand years ago, shouting and the clapping
of hands formed an obligatory accompaniment. Facilitated
as it was by the steepness of the track, the noisy exciting