DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4619#0010
monuments in the country. In the centre of one end
of the superstructure, the end facing the ancient city, I
conceive the whole history of the Monument to be told.
We see on two stones a continued view of an ancient
city, apparently depopulated, a sentinel only being seen
on each of the gate-towers. In this represented city I
at once recognise the walls and battlements of a Lycian
fortification, and within the walls is a stele, one of those
monuments almost peculiar to the city of Xanthus*,
where four are still standing. Upon the stele, seen over
the walls, is placed an emblem,—a sphinx seated be-
tween two lions. At tbe foot of one of these steles, still
existing within the walls, I found a seat formed by two
lions, which from the tenon under it and the mortise
upon the capstone of the stele, must evidently have
fallen from it. The walls of this city are represented as
surmounting a rock. These combined circumstances
leave no doubt in my mind that the city represented is
the acropolis of Xanthus.
At the gates, and upon the centre stone of the frieze,
is an oriental chief, dressed in a Persian costume and
seated upon a Persian throne. Over his head is held
by an unarmed attendant an umbrella, the emblem of
royalty. Behind his throne is a body-guard of soldiers,
in Ionian costume. Before the king, who must be Har-
pagus, are two unarmed, loose-robed, bearded men, ap-
parently pleading before the chief, whose uplifted arm
and general attitude indicate the despotic feeling of a
* One other is seen thrown down <it Pinara.
of the superstructure, the end facing the ancient city, I
conceive the whole history of the Monument to be told.
We see on two stones a continued view of an ancient
city, apparently depopulated, a sentinel only being seen
on each of the gate-towers. In this represented city I
at once recognise the walls and battlements of a Lycian
fortification, and within the walls is a stele, one of those
monuments almost peculiar to the city of Xanthus*,
where four are still standing. Upon the stele, seen over
the walls, is placed an emblem,—a sphinx seated be-
tween two lions. At tbe foot of one of these steles, still
existing within the walls, I found a seat formed by two
lions, which from the tenon under it and the mortise
upon the capstone of the stele, must evidently have
fallen from it. The walls of this city are represented as
surmounting a rock. These combined circumstances
leave no doubt in my mind that the city represented is
the acropolis of Xanthus.
At the gates, and upon the centre stone of the frieze,
is an oriental chief, dressed in a Persian costume and
seated upon a Persian throne. Over his head is held
by an unarmed attendant an umbrella, the emblem of
royalty. Behind his throne is a body-guard of soldiers,
in Ionian costume. Before the king, who must be Har-
pagus, are two unarmed, loose-robed, bearded men, ap-
parently pleading before the chief, whose uplifted arm
and general attitude indicate the despotic feeling of a
* One other is seen thrown down <it Pinara.