DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4099#0382
RUINS OF LEPREOS. 347
between south and south-east, through a plain of common and
Indian corn, bounded on the right by the sea and by sand-banks,
while gentle hills terminated it on the left. One hour from the
khan we crossed a small rivulet, and turned to the left towards the
hills for the purpose of inspecting an ancient city. Forty minutes
from the above-mentioned stream we passed by a deserted house,
and entered a narrow cultivated plain, bounded by pretty hills Avell
wooded, particularly with the round topped pine. This may be
the iEpasian plain.1 We came to a kalybia of thatched cottages
belonging to the town of Strobitza. To the right was a rapid stream
running in a westerly direction to the sea. We passed a rivulet,
and ascended by an almost trackless way through a forest of firs,
and in three hours from the khan reached the first traces of the
city of which we were in search. A rapid rivulet ran near us down
the hill, turning some small mills in its course. We employed
half an hour in ascending from the first traces to the acropolis.
Two entire gates are remaining of the common square form. One
of them is almost buried under the ruins and earth which reach
nearly to its architrave. The towers are square; one of them is
almost entire, and contains a small window or arrow hole. A
transverse wall is carried completely across the acropolis, by which
means it was anciently divided into two parts. The foundation
of this wall, and part of the elevation, still remain.
Three different periods of architecture are evident in this fortress.
The walls are composed of polygons : some of the towers consist of
irregular, and others of rectangular quadrilaterals. The ruins extend
far below the acropolis on the side of the hill, and are seen on a flat
detached knoll. It was evidently an extensive city. Its situation
corresponds nearly to that of Lepreos in Triphylia, which in earlier
times was the country of the Caucons. Callimachus2 calls it
Kuvxuwv irloXisOgov. It seems to have been an inferior city in the
time of the Persian war; and its contingent at the battle of Platasa
' Strabo, b. 8. p. 348. * Hymn 1. v. 39.
Y Y 2
between south and south-east, through a plain of common and
Indian corn, bounded on the right by the sea and by sand-banks,
while gentle hills terminated it on the left. One hour from the
khan we crossed a small rivulet, and turned to the left towards the
hills for the purpose of inspecting an ancient city. Forty minutes
from the above-mentioned stream we passed by a deserted house,
and entered a narrow cultivated plain, bounded by pretty hills Avell
wooded, particularly with the round topped pine. This may be
the iEpasian plain.1 We came to a kalybia of thatched cottages
belonging to the town of Strobitza. To the right was a rapid stream
running in a westerly direction to the sea. We passed a rivulet,
and ascended by an almost trackless way through a forest of firs,
and in three hours from the khan reached the first traces of the
city of which we were in search. A rapid rivulet ran near us down
the hill, turning some small mills in its course. We employed
half an hour in ascending from the first traces to the acropolis.
Two entire gates are remaining of the common square form. One
of them is almost buried under the ruins and earth which reach
nearly to its architrave. The towers are square; one of them is
almost entire, and contains a small window or arrow hole. A
transverse wall is carried completely across the acropolis, by which
means it was anciently divided into two parts. The foundation
of this wall, and part of the elevation, still remain.
Three different periods of architecture are evident in this fortress.
The walls are composed of polygons : some of the towers consist of
irregular, and others of rectangular quadrilaterals. The ruins extend
far below the acropolis on the side of the hill, and are seen on a flat
detached knoll. It was evidently an extensive city. Its situation
corresponds nearly to that of Lepreos in Triphylia, which in earlier
times was the country of the Caucons. Callimachus2 calls it
Kuvxuwv irloXisOgov. It seems to have been an inferior city in the
time of the Persian war; and its contingent at the battle of Platasa
' Strabo, b. 8. p. 348. * Hymn 1. v. 39.
Y Y 2