DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.794#0005
VIEWS AND DESCRIPTIONS.
No. I.
RUINS OF LYCOSURA, IN ARCADIA.
The account which Pausanias* gives of Lycosura is comprised in few words. He says " it was the most ancient
city in the world, the first that the sun ever illuminated with his rays," and that " from these venerable Avails men
learned how to build other cities."
It was in ruins in the time of the Topographer; it was founded by Lycaon, the Son of Pelasgos, upon the eastern
foot of Mount Lycceon, and was the residence of Clitor,| the most powerful King of his time, from whom the city of Clitor
in Arcadia derived its origin and its name.J I was particularly anxious to examine the construction of its walls,—and its
position is so clearly indicated by Pausanias, that I should have found it without much difficulty, by merely taking his
account as my guide, if I had not been misled by some villagers of the vicinity. After a scrutinising search of some
days amidst the forests of Lycceon, I succeeded in discovering the spot to which I was directed by the description of
Pausanias, and I was highly gratified by an inspection of these venerable ruins, which there is every reason to believe
constituted the ancient Lycosura.
The acropolis stood upon a fine precipice, of an oblong form, the extremities facing nearly north and south. The
western side is composed of inaccessible rocks, and the other which faces the plain of Megalopolis, is supported by a
double terrace wall, composed of large rough stones, like the walls of Tiryns. A wall of the same kind was also carried
round the extreme edge of the precipice and followed the sinuosities of the rock. The stones are about the size of those
which compose the walls of Tiryns. It appears to have had only one gate, the foundations of which are visible at its
southern base. Two ruined churches are within the acropolis, with several fragments of columns, of a dark-coloured
marble. The remains of the town are scattered round the acropolis; they seem to have occupied a space of about two
miles in circuit, and to have covered some undulating elevations. This part of the city appears to have possessed four
edifices of the Doric order, of which the columns are of small proportions, and the capitals of a very ancient form. None of
the walls of the lower city are preserved. The place is at present named Agios Gcorgios, and the nearest village is Stala,
which is about a mile from it. It is two hours from the village of Sinano and the ruins or Megalopolis.
The distant part of the View is the fertile plain of Megalopolis watered by the Alpheus, the Helisson, and other
streams, and bounded on the north-east by a lofty range of rough and wooded mountains.—2d Vol. 10th Chap.
• Pausnnias, B. 0, Cliap. 31
t Son of Azan.
I l'uusmiins, B. 0, Chap. 2.
No. I.
RUINS OF LYCOSURA, IN ARCADIA.
The account which Pausanias* gives of Lycosura is comprised in few words. He says " it was the most ancient
city in the world, the first that the sun ever illuminated with his rays," and that " from these venerable Avails men
learned how to build other cities."
It was in ruins in the time of the Topographer; it was founded by Lycaon, the Son of Pelasgos, upon the eastern
foot of Mount Lycceon, and was the residence of Clitor,| the most powerful King of his time, from whom the city of Clitor
in Arcadia derived its origin and its name.J I was particularly anxious to examine the construction of its walls,—and its
position is so clearly indicated by Pausanias, that I should have found it without much difficulty, by merely taking his
account as my guide, if I had not been misled by some villagers of the vicinity. After a scrutinising search of some
days amidst the forests of Lycceon, I succeeded in discovering the spot to which I was directed by the description of
Pausanias, and I was highly gratified by an inspection of these venerable ruins, which there is every reason to believe
constituted the ancient Lycosura.
The acropolis stood upon a fine precipice, of an oblong form, the extremities facing nearly north and south. The
western side is composed of inaccessible rocks, and the other which faces the plain of Megalopolis, is supported by a
double terrace wall, composed of large rough stones, like the walls of Tiryns. A wall of the same kind was also carried
round the extreme edge of the precipice and followed the sinuosities of the rock. The stones are about the size of those
which compose the walls of Tiryns. It appears to have had only one gate, the foundations of which are visible at its
southern base. Two ruined churches are within the acropolis, with several fragments of columns, of a dark-coloured
marble. The remains of the town are scattered round the acropolis; they seem to have occupied a space of about two
miles in circuit, and to have covered some undulating elevations. This part of the city appears to have possessed four
edifices of the Doric order, of which the columns are of small proportions, and the capitals of a very ancient form. None of
the walls of the lower city are preserved. The place is at present named Agios Gcorgios, and the nearest village is Stala,
which is about a mile from it. It is two hours from the village of Sinano and the ruins or Megalopolis.
The distant part of the View is the fertile plain of Megalopolis watered by the Alpheus, the Helisson, and other
streams, and bounded on the north-east by a lofty range of rough and wooded mountains.—2d Vol. 10th Chap.
• Pausnnias, B. 0, Cliap. 31
t Son of Azan.
I l'uusmiins, B. 0, Chap. 2.