DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4324#0115
m
SAMOS.
fragments of the statue into staters,4 and employed in all probability in paying the Venetians for
the transport of the troops. Near the temple was found a small statue of brass, which the labourer
who discovered it filed in a barbarous manner, in order to ascertain whether it was of gold.
It is now in the possession of the Rev. G. A. Browne of Trinity College, Cambridge, and is
probably an exact representation of the great statue of Juno.-r
PLATE I.
MAP OF THE COUNTRY AROUND SAMOS.
It appears from an examination of the district, that there was anciently a magnificent road from
the Heraeum to the city of Samos, which we may safely conclude was termed the Sacred Way, and
to have been the usual approach of the processions to the shrine of the goddess. The map shews
the position of several heaps or tumuli which once decorated this Way; but whether they were
barrows, or the sites of magnificent tombs, cannot now be ascertained without excavation. The
distance between the Heraeum and the city of Samos is about four thousand five hundred yards,
passing at five hundred paces a stream, and at eight hundred and sixty another river and marsh.
At one thousand and twenty-five paces one of the most remarkable tumuli is near on the left. At
one thousand six hundred and fifty paces is a modern custom-house on the beach; at two thou-
sand two hundred and fifty-five is a mill, and at two thousand seven hundred and fifty are the
walls of the ancient Samos, which run up to the summit of the rocky hill on the left. Near the
road are seen sarcophagi decorated with festoons, and a fine source of salt water. On entering the
old city, are some modern ruins, now called Odontia, or the teeth, from their form. Following the
course of the walls and towers up the ascent on the left, the citadel is seen covering the summit of
the hill. The walls are all constructed in horizontal courses, and vary in thickness from nine to
fourteen feet. In some places the projecting cornice yet remains, and even the lower courses of
the battlements. Five gates may be traced upon the summit, but it would be difficult to imagine
their use, as they generally open upon rocks and precipices.^ From the fortress may be seen a
* Lib. iii. c. 60.
■f- Near the temple was also found the brazen head of a
griffin, whicb may have been one of those which, according
to Herodotus, B. iv. 152, surrounded a large votive vase of
brass, dedicated by the Sainians in the temple of Juno. This
is now in the possession of R. P. Knight, Esq.
In the walls near the Hereeum are many fragments of sta-
tues. The thighs, an arm, and a foot of a female figure, of
Parian marble, originally about twelve feet in height, lie in
a neighbouring field. Near the temple are also pieces of
sculpture in basso-rilievo, the figures of which have evidently
been larger than those of the Parthenon. It is proper to
state, for the information of future travellers, that the ruins
of the great temple will soon, in all probability, become a
quarry, from whence materials will be taken for the con-
struction of a village on the shore ; and if so, much may be
discovered that the mission in 1812 were not enabled to
examine. By the contrivance of Pisani, the interpreter at
Constantinople, the island of Samos was not mentioned in
the firhman, but the names of Aleppo and Diarbeldr substi-
tuted. The consequence was, that the archons of the
island prohibited the people from working at the excava-
tions, and the gentlemen of the mission were obliged, in the
month of June, to work themselves with spades and pick-
axes, while their interpreter was employed in drawing off
the inhabitants from the spot, by telling them amusing-
stories, and the practice of several ridiculous mummeries.
% The towers are usually about four feet in thickness, in
two perpendicular courses. One well preserved, on the west,
has two loop holes on the west, two on the south, and one
on the north, with a door on the east. These apertures dimi-
nish toward the outer face in the proportion of two feet to
ten inches.
SAMOS.
fragments of the statue into staters,4 and employed in all probability in paying the Venetians for
the transport of the troops. Near the temple was found a small statue of brass, which the labourer
who discovered it filed in a barbarous manner, in order to ascertain whether it was of gold.
It is now in the possession of the Rev. G. A. Browne of Trinity College, Cambridge, and is
probably an exact representation of the great statue of Juno.-r
PLATE I.
MAP OF THE COUNTRY AROUND SAMOS.
It appears from an examination of the district, that there was anciently a magnificent road from
the Heraeum to the city of Samos, which we may safely conclude was termed the Sacred Way, and
to have been the usual approach of the processions to the shrine of the goddess. The map shews
the position of several heaps or tumuli which once decorated this Way; but whether they were
barrows, or the sites of magnificent tombs, cannot now be ascertained without excavation. The
distance between the Heraeum and the city of Samos is about four thousand five hundred yards,
passing at five hundred paces a stream, and at eight hundred and sixty another river and marsh.
At one thousand and twenty-five paces one of the most remarkable tumuli is near on the left. At
one thousand six hundred and fifty paces is a modern custom-house on the beach; at two thou-
sand two hundred and fifty-five is a mill, and at two thousand seven hundred and fifty are the
walls of the ancient Samos, which run up to the summit of the rocky hill on the left. Near the
road are seen sarcophagi decorated with festoons, and a fine source of salt water. On entering the
old city, are some modern ruins, now called Odontia, or the teeth, from their form. Following the
course of the walls and towers up the ascent on the left, the citadel is seen covering the summit of
the hill. The walls are all constructed in horizontal courses, and vary in thickness from nine to
fourteen feet. In some places the projecting cornice yet remains, and even the lower courses of
the battlements. Five gates may be traced upon the summit, but it would be difficult to imagine
their use, as they generally open upon rocks and precipices.^ From the fortress may be seen a
* Lib. iii. c. 60.
■f- Near the temple was also found the brazen head of a
griffin, whicb may have been one of those which, according
to Herodotus, B. iv. 152, surrounded a large votive vase of
brass, dedicated by the Sainians in the temple of Juno. This
is now in the possession of R. P. Knight, Esq.
In the walls near the Hereeum are many fragments of sta-
tues. The thighs, an arm, and a foot of a female figure, of
Parian marble, originally about twelve feet in height, lie in
a neighbouring field. Near the temple are also pieces of
sculpture in basso-rilievo, the figures of which have evidently
been larger than those of the Parthenon. It is proper to
state, for the information of future travellers, that the ruins
of the great temple will soon, in all probability, become a
quarry, from whence materials will be taken for the con-
struction of a village on the shore ; and if so, much may be
discovered that the mission in 1812 were not enabled to
examine. By the contrivance of Pisani, the interpreter at
Constantinople, the island of Samos was not mentioned in
the firhman, but the names of Aleppo and Diarbeldr substi-
tuted. The consequence was, that the archons of the
island prohibited the people from working at the excava-
tions, and the gentlemen of the mission were obliged, in the
month of June, to work themselves with spades and pick-
axes, while their interpreter was employed in drawing off
the inhabitants from the spot, by telling them amusing-
stories, and the practice of several ridiculous mummeries.
% The towers are usually about four feet in thickness, in
two perpendicular courses. One well preserved, on the west,
has two loop holes on the west, two on the south, and one
on the north, with a door on the east. These apertures dimi-
nish toward the outer face in the proportion of two feet to
ten inches.