Fellows, Charles: Travels and researches in Asia Minor, more particularly in the province of Lycia (London, 1852)

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CHAPTER XIV.

THE ANCIENT APHEODISIAS.— TEMPLE OP VENUS. — PAGAN AGE.—
CHEISTIAN AGE. — PEESENT STATE. — SAECOPHAGI.—NATUEAL HIS-
TOEY.—KAEASOO.—AEEIVAL OP THE NEW PIEMAN OE CODE OP LAWS.
—CONSEQUENT CHANGES.—EETUEN TO THE VALLEY OP THE M^ANDEE.
—THE EIVEE HAEPASUS.—PASSAGE OP THE MOUNTAINS.—VALLEY OP
THE MAESYAS.

Aphrodisias, March 10th. — We have taken possession of
a house once attached to that of the Aga, which forms a pic-
turesque object from our window; its owner has for some years
left it to decay. I must endeavour to describe in some degree
the interesting objects that detain us here. Aphrodisias lies
to the east of the head of the valley which gives rise to the
Mosynus, and is beautifully bounded by mountains of consi-
derable importance. Cadmus rises majestically on the east,
while the distant summits of Mount Tmolus towering above
the range of Messogis are seen in the north: the elevation of
the city above the sea is about a thousand feet, the air healthy
and cool, and the water excellent. I see no river or stream,
but the old fountains are supplied from distant sources in the
hiUs.

Aphrodisias is not in appearance the site of an ancient
Greek city; it lies low, and its principal buildings are not,
as usual, elevated above the rest of the town. It is difficult
to describe the ruins of this city ; I never saw in one place
so many perfect remains, although by no means of a good age