DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5178#0012
THEATRES AND OTHER REMAINS IN CRETE.
11
THE ANTIQUITIES OF CANDIA.
HIERAPYTNA.
About forty miles west of C. Salomon, on the south coast, are
the remains of the noble city of Hierapytna. The city was
formerly called Cyrba, then Pyclna, then Camiro, and lastly
Hierapytna; the modern name is Gerapetra. It appears to
have been built in the manner of Alexandria, having opposite
to it a small island connected with the city by a mole, formed
of a wall twenty feet in thickness, and serving as a gabion
battery to a beautiful and commodious harbour.
Hierapytna contained a naumachia, an amphitheatre, two
theatres, temples, thermae, and aqueducts. The modern city
was ruined by a dreadful earthquake in 1508, which is de-
scribed by Girolamo Donato, Duke of Candia; the translation
of whose letter I will give when I come to speak of the
earthquakes which have happened to this island.* Since that
event the city has been reduced to a small castle with a
hamlet. (A. Z.)
* In Cod. R. 122 of the Ambrosiana is a letter directed to Alfonso Ragona,
on a " Trenmoto seguito nell' Isola di Candia." Not having taken a note of
it I do not recollect whether it relates to that of 1508, described by Donato, or
to the subsequent one witnessed by Belli himself in 1595. Candia is peculiarly
subject to these awful visitations. Earthquakes, many of which were very-
fatal, are recorded to have taken place in 1303, 1311, 1416, 1490, 1508, and
1595. See Torres, Antiquitates Cret. cap. xv. p. 126-7.
11
THE ANTIQUITIES OF CANDIA.
HIERAPYTNA.
About forty miles west of C. Salomon, on the south coast, are
the remains of the noble city of Hierapytna. The city was
formerly called Cyrba, then Pyclna, then Camiro, and lastly
Hierapytna; the modern name is Gerapetra. It appears to
have been built in the manner of Alexandria, having opposite
to it a small island connected with the city by a mole, formed
of a wall twenty feet in thickness, and serving as a gabion
battery to a beautiful and commodious harbour.
Hierapytna contained a naumachia, an amphitheatre, two
theatres, temples, thermae, and aqueducts. The modern city
was ruined by a dreadful earthquake in 1508, which is de-
scribed by Girolamo Donato, Duke of Candia; the translation
of whose letter I will give when I come to speak of the
earthquakes which have happened to this island.* Since that
event the city has been reduced to a small castle with a
hamlet. (A. Z.)
* In Cod. R. 122 of the Ambrosiana is a letter directed to Alfonso Ragona,
on a " Trenmoto seguito nell' Isola di Candia." Not having taken a note of
it I do not recollect whether it relates to that of 1508, described by Donato, or
to the subsequent one witnessed by Belli himself in 1595. Candia is peculiarly
subject to these awful visitations. Earthquakes, many of which were very-
fatal, are recorded to have taken place in 1303, 1311, 1416, 1490, 1508, and
1595. See Torres, Antiquitates Cret. cap. xv. p. 126-7.