DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4098#0080
56 RUINS OF NLCOPOLIS.
yards, which has destroyed the resources of the county, and re-
duced it to the greatest misery.
In an hour, we arrived at the ruins of Nicopolis, the distance being
about four miles. It is now called Palaia Prebeza (ancient Prebeza).
Our time being short, we immediately ascended an eminence, to have
a general idea of the ruins. An extensive plain is in a manner, co-
vered with large masses of Roman brick buildings, many of which
are unintelligible and perfectly uninteresting. About the middle of
the plain are seen two large circular towers, with a round arch or gate
between them. A thick wall diverges for a considerable length, from
each of the towers, until it is lost amongst the ruins; this was no
doubt the city wall.
Not far from this, are the remains of a small theatre; many of the
seats and the wall of the Proscenium are still preserved. We entered
a vaulted passage, which formed the portico as at the Flavian am-
phitheatre at Rome; but some masses of wall which had fallen,
prevented our further progress.
From this we proceeded to another theatre, built on the same plan,
but much larger than the one abovementioned; the remains how-
ever, are not so perfect. Upon the scene are several fragmented
Greek inscriptions on white marble, which from their mutilated state,
appear to have been broken on purpose. This theatre stands at the
base of a small hill, and seems to have been at the extremity of the
town, as there are no ruins beyond it; it overlooks the plain and all
the remains of this once large and opulent city. One of our Alba-
nians had been at the battle which was fought between the French
and Turks, and pointed out the spot where the attack began, within
a short distance of the great theatre.
Here are also the remains of a circus and an aqueduct, which con-
veyed water to the town from the river Louro, a distance of at least
twelve miles.
We remained here four hours, but had not near time sufficient to
take even a cursory view of the ruins, which cover a space of several
miles; the whole is overgrown with gigantic thistles, generally from
six to eight feet high, which it is almost impossible to penetrate. I
yards, which has destroyed the resources of the county, and re-
duced it to the greatest misery.
In an hour, we arrived at the ruins of Nicopolis, the distance being
about four miles. It is now called Palaia Prebeza (ancient Prebeza).
Our time being short, we immediately ascended an eminence, to have
a general idea of the ruins. An extensive plain is in a manner, co-
vered with large masses of Roman brick buildings, many of which
are unintelligible and perfectly uninteresting. About the middle of
the plain are seen two large circular towers, with a round arch or gate
between them. A thick wall diverges for a considerable length, from
each of the towers, until it is lost amongst the ruins; this was no
doubt the city wall.
Not far from this, are the remains of a small theatre; many of the
seats and the wall of the Proscenium are still preserved. We entered
a vaulted passage, which formed the portico as at the Flavian am-
phitheatre at Rome; but some masses of wall which had fallen,
prevented our further progress.
From this we proceeded to another theatre, built on the same plan,
but much larger than the one abovementioned; the remains how-
ever, are not so perfect. Upon the scene are several fragmented
Greek inscriptions on white marble, which from their mutilated state,
appear to have been broken on purpose. This theatre stands at the
base of a small hill, and seems to have been at the extremity of the
town, as there are no ruins beyond it; it overlooks the plain and all
the remains of this once large and opulent city. One of our Alba-
nians had been at the battle which was fought between the French
and Turks, and pointed out the spot where the attack began, within
a short distance of the great theatre.
Here are also the remains of a circus and an aqueduct, which con-
veyed water to the town from the river Louro, a distance of at least
twelve miles.
We remained here four hours, but had not near time sufficient to
take even a cursory view of the ruins, which cover a space of several
miles; the whole is overgrown with gigantic thistles, generally from
six to eight feet high, which it is almost impossible to penetrate. I