DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4719#0232
itg:
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LAODICEIA.
211
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*■- ■ »"*' ~~..~'.'.■].
TW virtoLmi
.it do;:
j Bl MM I1M
hinmnL
■IWp,ieUi
JtekAt<
MM
■0k, *JP
All the buildings of this city are constructed of an ex-
tremely coarse conglomerate or petrified mass, and the
cornices and ornamental parts alone are of marble or other
fine stone. I saw many remains of thin slabs of marble
for lining or covering the walls, still partially retaining
the cement which attached them. This town is said to
have been destroyed or injured several times by earth-
quakes ; but the hills on which it stands do not show any
signs of volcanic changes ; indeed the alluvial strata through-
out the whole of these hills are so horizontal and undis-
turbed that they can scarcely afford any subject of interest
to the geologist, although combined with rock, and bearing
cities upon them which are amongst the earliest in history.
The change which is taking place, by their being washed
down into the valley, is rapid only when viewed by a geolo-
gist. There is no trace of any volcanic matter in the
stones carried down by the streams, which are all either of
white marble or micaceous schist brought from the high
mountains which peer over these hills on either side of the
broad valley.
At the entrance to the old city stand the massy remains
of a bridge, of which the uncemented stones have been
shaken apart in a most singular manner, to be accounted
for only by attributing it to an earthquake. A paved road
leads to a triple-arched entrance to the city; but in the
immense space which was occupied by it, and is now covered
with its ruins, I could satisfactorily distinguish only a few
of the ancient buildings. There are two theatres cut from
the side of the hill, of which the seats still remain tolerably
perfect, the proscenia being heaps of ruins. The one facing
the east has been extremely handsome, with seats all of
marble, supported by lions' paws. Many of the seats had
initials cut rudely upon them, and in different Greek cha-
racters, probably marking the seats as individual property.
Several temples may be traced by their foundations ; but the
i. .
■m» »W amjj
•' -'- %■'
LAODICEIA.
211
*■"■'• ■:*:-.
*■- ■ »"*' ~~..~'.'.■].
TW virtoLmi
.it do;:
j Bl MM I1M
hinmnL
■IWp,ieUi
JtekAt<
MM
■0k, *JP
All the buildings of this city are constructed of an ex-
tremely coarse conglomerate or petrified mass, and the
cornices and ornamental parts alone are of marble or other
fine stone. I saw many remains of thin slabs of marble
for lining or covering the walls, still partially retaining
the cement which attached them. This town is said to
have been destroyed or injured several times by earth-
quakes ; but the hills on which it stands do not show any
signs of volcanic changes ; indeed the alluvial strata through-
out the whole of these hills are so horizontal and undis-
turbed that they can scarcely afford any subject of interest
to the geologist, although combined with rock, and bearing
cities upon them which are amongst the earliest in history.
The change which is taking place, by their being washed
down into the valley, is rapid only when viewed by a geolo-
gist. There is no trace of any volcanic matter in the
stones carried down by the streams, which are all either of
white marble or micaceous schist brought from the high
mountains which peer over these hills on either side of the
broad valley.
At the entrance to the old city stand the massy remains
of a bridge, of which the uncemented stones have been
shaken apart in a most singular manner, to be accounted
for only by attributing it to an earthquake. A paved road
leads to a triple-arched entrance to the city; but in the
immense space which was occupied by it, and is now covered
with its ruins, I could satisfactorily distinguish only a few
of the ancient buildings. There are two theatres cut from
the side of the hill, of which the seats still remain tolerably
perfect, the proscenia being heaps of ruins. The one facing
the east has been extremely handsome, with seats all of
marble, supported by lions' paws. Many of the seats had
initials cut rudely upon them, and in different Greek cha-
racters, probably marking the seats as individual property.
Several temples may be traced by their foundations ; but the
i. .