DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.749#0124
FORTIFICATION WALLS AND GATEWAYS
PAGE 189
THE FORTIFICA¬
TION WALLS
AND GATEWAYS
The walls and gateways of Assos described in this book
were measured and drawn by Mr. Clarke. No detailed
description was written by him and the following notes
are partly taken from the First Report and partly added by the
editor. The walls of Assos have been described by travellers
from the earliest times as being the best preserved specimens
of Greek military engineering known. Throughout their en-
tire extent, a length of over three kilometres, they are built
of massive blocks of acropolis stone so planned as to protect
the most exposed points. The greater part of the circuit can
be traced, and it is only at the North of the acropolis that its
position is uncertain. (See plan of Assos, Page 13.) The blocks
are rectangular with dressed beds, and are laid without mortar
in horizontal courses of nearly equal height, bonded at inter-
vals by headers, extending from face to face (Page 21 5, Fig. 4).
This regular masonry is at times built upon or encloses
polygonal walls of an older period (Page 215, Figs. 1 and 2)-
The principal city gate was at the West (see photograph,
Page 19 1) and was in good preservation up to 1865, when it
was partially demolished by the 'Purks who transported the
stones to Constantinople. From this gate issued the paved road
leading to Leeton and Alexandria Troas.
Fig. 1. Round Tower, Northwest Walls
The central opening was flanked by two rectangular tow-
ers, about 16 m. high, with battlements and loop holes for
discharging missiles. The Eastern tower is existing to the
height of the roof, as is shown by the gutter still in position.
(See plan of top course, Page 215, Fig. 3.) Two projecting cor-
bels, with square sockets, probably supported masts for ban-
ners. The doorway in this tower outside the gate was evidently
cut in later times (Page 199, Fig. 1). The rear elevation (Page
201) shows a large doorway at a higher level and a triple win-
dow belonging to a large room in the tower, 9.45 m. long by
6.39 m. wide. The opening of the main gate was 3.04 m. wide
by 5 m.,high; the massive stone lintel was gone but the jambs
existed to the height of the corbels which were beneath. These
corbels (Page 190, Fig. 1) served no purpose of support but
seemed to exist for aesthetic reasons, to soften the sharp corners
of the opening. (See also photograph of Eastern gate No. 8,
Fig. 2. Gate No. 8, Corbel under Lintel
(Principal Eastern Gate)
Page 189, Fig. 2.) 'The reveals, inside and out of the main
gateway, were arched in pointed form, the arches being made
by stones projecting over one another. The beginning of on
side of the arch is shown on Page 197, Fig. 1.
Inside of the gateway was a small, vaulted chamber, roofed
with similarly projecting stones (Page 199, Fig. 2). This cham-
ber with the entrance on the level of the road was probably for
the guard. Fragments of the battlements were found in several
places; one is shown on Page 215, Fig. 5.
Gate No. 1 (Page 195) was of later date than gate No. 5 and
is the only outside gate now existing at Assos spanned by a true
arch. It was a small postern with an opening 1.15 m. wide
and 2.10 m. high. Close by a part of the wall exists in good
preservation to a height of about 1 1 m., with a cap-stone
which formed the base of the parapet (Page 195, Fig. 4). This
wall is evidently of the same date as gate No. 1. On the same
page Figs. 5, 6 and 7 show gutter outlets from various parts
of the outer walls which conducted rainwater from the inner
terraces.
The Round Tower, Page 21 1, on the North wall overlook-
ing the valley of the river, belonged to the latest period, but
was well built of massive stones. The inside walls were dressed
smoother than the outside. There were five loopholes for the
discharge of missiles. In the course above the loopholes were
four projecting corbels “A — A”. The uppermost remaining
course on top of the wall showed peculiar cuts in the stone;
PAGE 189
THE FORTIFICA¬
TION WALLS
AND GATEWAYS
The walls and gateways of Assos described in this book
were measured and drawn by Mr. Clarke. No detailed
description was written by him and the following notes
are partly taken from the First Report and partly added by the
editor. The walls of Assos have been described by travellers
from the earliest times as being the best preserved specimens
of Greek military engineering known. Throughout their en-
tire extent, a length of over three kilometres, they are built
of massive blocks of acropolis stone so planned as to protect
the most exposed points. The greater part of the circuit can
be traced, and it is only at the North of the acropolis that its
position is uncertain. (See plan of Assos, Page 13.) The blocks
are rectangular with dressed beds, and are laid without mortar
in horizontal courses of nearly equal height, bonded at inter-
vals by headers, extending from face to face (Page 21 5, Fig. 4).
This regular masonry is at times built upon or encloses
polygonal walls of an older period (Page 215, Figs. 1 and 2)-
The principal city gate was at the West (see photograph,
Page 19 1) and was in good preservation up to 1865, when it
was partially demolished by the 'Purks who transported the
stones to Constantinople. From this gate issued the paved road
leading to Leeton and Alexandria Troas.
Fig. 1. Round Tower, Northwest Walls
The central opening was flanked by two rectangular tow-
ers, about 16 m. high, with battlements and loop holes for
discharging missiles. The Eastern tower is existing to the
height of the roof, as is shown by the gutter still in position.
(See plan of top course, Page 215, Fig. 3.) Two projecting cor-
bels, with square sockets, probably supported masts for ban-
ners. The doorway in this tower outside the gate was evidently
cut in later times (Page 199, Fig. 1). The rear elevation (Page
201) shows a large doorway at a higher level and a triple win-
dow belonging to a large room in the tower, 9.45 m. long by
6.39 m. wide. The opening of the main gate was 3.04 m. wide
by 5 m.,high; the massive stone lintel was gone but the jambs
existed to the height of the corbels which were beneath. These
corbels (Page 190, Fig. 1) served no purpose of support but
seemed to exist for aesthetic reasons, to soften the sharp corners
of the opening. (See also photograph of Eastern gate No. 8,
Fig. 2. Gate No. 8, Corbel under Lintel
(Principal Eastern Gate)
Page 189, Fig. 2.) 'The reveals, inside and out of the main
gateway, were arched in pointed form, the arches being made
by stones projecting over one another. The beginning of on
side of the arch is shown on Page 197, Fig. 1.
Inside of the gateway was a small, vaulted chamber, roofed
with similarly projecting stones (Page 199, Fig. 2). This cham-
ber with the entrance on the level of the road was probably for
the guard. Fragments of the battlements were found in several
places; one is shown on Page 215, Fig. 5.
Gate No. 1 (Page 195) was of later date than gate No. 5 and
is the only outside gate now existing at Assos spanned by a true
arch. It was a small postern with an opening 1.15 m. wide
and 2.10 m. high. Close by a part of the wall exists in good
preservation to a height of about 1 1 m., with a cap-stone
which formed the base of the parapet (Page 195, Fig. 4). This
wall is evidently of the same date as gate No. 1. On the same
page Figs. 5, 6 and 7 show gutter outlets from various parts
of the outer walls which conducted rainwater from the inner
terraces.
The Round Tower, Page 21 1, on the North wall overlook-
ing the valley of the river, belonged to the latest period, but
was well built of massive stones. The inside walls were dressed
smoother than the outside. There were five loopholes for the
discharge of missiles. In the course above the loopholes were
four projecting corbels “A — A”. The uppermost remaining
course on top of the wall showed peculiar cuts in the stone;