DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4099#0066
VILLAGE OF LIBANATIS. RUINS OF A CITY. 59
to us, but could not be distinguished. About an hour from this spot
we came to the remains of another city, with traces and foundations
occupying a considerable extent. Here is a church, which is in a
great measure composed of ancient remains, and a few paces from
it is an antique thronos of grey marble.
In a quarter of an hour from these ruins we arrived at the town
of Talanda, which is peopled with an equal proportion of Turks
and Greeks; the former having two mosques, and the latter a
bishop, suffragan of the metropolitan of Athens; it is about six
miles from the sea, and is situated in a recess of the vale, at the foot
of a mountain,1 which has the same name as the town. It is en-
livened with gardens and large trees, and its appearance is green
and cheerful. Parnassos is seen over the lower part of Mount
Talanda, towards the south-west, towering to a great height; its
outline is of a serrated form, and its northern glens are covered
with snow. Some ancient fragments, and an inscription containing
the name of the city of Opous, are observed at Talanda; but these
have, no doubt, been brought from a distance. Talanda itself ex-
hibits no vestiges of antiquity, and in no respect corresponds with
the situation of the capital of the Locri.
In pursuing our journey, we crossed the plain in a north-east
direction, passed over a torrent bed, and the great road leading to
Libadea. In the evening we arrived at Libanatis, which is one hour
and a half from Talanda, and is agreeably situated amongst corn fields,
interspersed with olive trees, and commanding a view of Eubcea
and its gulf. Our lodging Avas the cottage of a poor Albanian
Woman, who was lamenting the loss of her husband, who some time
before had been killed by thieves while her infant son was taken
prisoner, whom she had ransomed for S00 Turkish piastres, the
savings of several years !
While our dinner was preparing at the village, we rode to the
sea-side, which is about a mile from it, for the purpose of exploring
1 The ancient Kyrtonon. Fausan. b. 9. c. 24.
i 2
to us, but could not be distinguished. About an hour from this spot
we came to the remains of another city, with traces and foundations
occupying a considerable extent. Here is a church, which is in a
great measure composed of ancient remains, and a few paces from
it is an antique thronos of grey marble.
In a quarter of an hour from these ruins we arrived at the town
of Talanda, which is peopled with an equal proportion of Turks
and Greeks; the former having two mosques, and the latter a
bishop, suffragan of the metropolitan of Athens; it is about six
miles from the sea, and is situated in a recess of the vale, at the foot
of a mountain,1 which has the same name as the town. It is en-
livened with gardens and large trees, and its appearance is green
and cheerful. Parnassos is seen over the lower part of Mount
Talanda, towards the south-west, towering to a great height; its
outline is of a serrated form, and its northern glens are covered
with snow. Some ancient fragments, and an inscription containing
the name of the city of Opous, are observed at Talanda; but these
have, no doubt, been brought from a distance. Talanda itself ex-
hibits no vestiges of antiquity, and in no respect corresponds with
the situation of the capital of the Locri.
In pursuing our journey, we crossed the plain in a north-east
direction, passed over a torrent bed, and the great road leading to
Libadea. In the evening we arrived at Libanatis, which is one hour
and a half from Talanda, and is agreeably situated amongst corn fields,
interspersed with olive trees, and commanding a view of Eubcea
and its gulf. Our lodging Avas the cottage of a poor Albanian
Woman, who was lamenting the loss of her husband, who some time
before had been killed by thieves while her infant son was taken
prisoner, whom she had ransomed for S00 Turkish piastres, the
savings of several years !
While our dinner was preparing at the village, we rode to the
sea-side, which is about a mile from it, for the purpose of exploring
1 The ancient Kyrtonon. Fausan. b. 9. c. 24.
i 2