DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4719#0493
IONIC TEOPliY MONUMENT.
465
*£
There is no site at Xanthus so well suited for a trophy,
commanding the conquered city, as this. It has a fine view
of the Acropolis of the Xanthians, from which it is separated
by a ravine: the cliff upon which the trophy is placed ap-
pears isolated, and affords space for this Monument alone.
The existing base, as I have stated, is constructed of massive
stones, and may be of a very early date: it resembles the
works of the earliest 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 recognize the walls and battlements of a Lycian for-
tification, and within the walls is a stele, one of those monu-
ments 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 between two lions. At
the 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 re-
presented 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 un-
armed 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 Harpagus, are two unarmed,
loose-robed, bearded men, apparently pleading before the
chief, whose uplifted arm and general attitude indicate the
despotic feeling of a conqueror. Behind these suppliants
# One other is seen thrown down at Pinara.
x3
465
*£
There is no site at Xanthus so well suited for a trophy,
commanding the conquered city, as this. It has a fine view
of the Acropolis of the Xanthians, from which it is separated
by a ravine: the cliff upon which the trophy is placed ap-
pears isolated, and affords space for this Monument alone.
The existing base, as I have stated, is constructed of massive
stones, and may be of a very early date: it resembles the
works of the earliest 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 recognize the walls and battlements of a Lycian for-
tification, and within the walls is a stele, one of those monu-
ments 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 between two lions. At
the 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 re-
presented 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 un-
armed 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 Harpagus, are two unarmed,
loose-robed, bearded men, apparently pleading before the
chief, whose uplifted arm and general attitude indicate the
despotic feeling of a conqueror. Behind these suppliants
# One other is seen thrown down at Pinara.
x3