DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4099#0289
ROMAN" RUINS. 261
stone spout is still seen in the wall, where the water entered from
under ground; originating probably from the great fountain noticed
by Pausanias. Several other masses of Roman brick are dispersed
amongst the ruins.
It is not known to what cause the destruction of this place is to
be ascribed. Many valuable antiquities are, no doubt, concealed
under the confused piles of accumulated ruins; and the scattered
profusion of fragments, and rich marbles, may readily induce us to
believe that the labours of an excavation would be amply repaid.
I found some specimens of a most beautiful green porphyry, which
I had never seen before; and it is unknown even at Rome, where all
the rich marbles of the world seem to have been collected.
The sacred grove is now reduced to some scattered shrubs and
bushes. The surrounding country is dull and monotonous. The
neighbouring elevations were enriched with sacred edifices, and merit
a careful examination. But there is no place in the immediate
vicinity where we could have passed the night, and we accordingly
continued our journey in the evening, after having spent the day
amongst the ruins. This was much less time than would have been
necessary for a minute examination of this interesting locality.
TO EPIDAURA, EPIDAUROS.
We crossed a small stream that permeates the deep bed of a tor-
rent, and rises at the base of the neighbouring hills, the source being
probably the fountain of iEsculapius.
The road was extremely bad, and hilly; and the country being
uncultivated, was overgrown with many kinds of shrubs, small pines,
stone spout is still seen in the wall, where the water entered from
under ground; originating probably from the great fountain noticed
by Pausanias. Several other masses of Roman brick are dispersed
amongst the ruins.
It is not known to what cause the destruction of this place is to
be ascribed. Many valuable antiquities are, no doubt, concealed
under the confused piles of accumulated ruins; and the scattered
profusion of fragments, and rich marbles, may readily induce us to
believe that the labours of an excavation would be amply repaid.
I found some specimens of a most beautiful green porphyry, which
I had never seen before; and it is unknown even at Rome, where all
the rich marbles of the world seem to have been collected.
The sacred grove is now reduced to some scattered shrubs and
bushes. The surrounding country is dull and monotonous. The
neighbouring elevations were enriched with sacred edifices, and merit
a careful examination. But there is no place in the immediate
vicinity where we could have passed the night, and we accordingly
continued our journey in the evening, after having spent the day
amongst the ruins. This was much less time than would have been
necessary for a minute examination of this interesting locality.
TO EPIDAURA, EPIDAUROS.
We crossed a small stream that permeates the deep bed of a tor-
rent, and rises at the base of the neighbouring hills, the source being
probably the fountain of iEsculapius.
The road was extremely bad, and hilly; and the country being
uncultivated, was overgrown with many kinds of shrubs, small pines,