DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5541#0101
Chap. v.j
ENVIRONS OF BRUSA.
73
was surprised to see the figure of a cross, which had escaped
destruction by the hands of the Turks. The tombs of the
conqueror and his family stand upon a raised dais in the
centre.
To the west of this mosque was the ruined castle, with
two gateways, one to the south and the other to the west,
on each side of which were some very rude bas-reliefs.
The area of the castle had been converted into gardens,
and nothing remained but the outer wall, of alternate
courses of brick and stone, flanked by several towers in a
state of ruin.
March 24. —Remained at Brusa. We had intended to
ascend Mount Olympus, but it was impossible to do so at
this season on account of the snow, which was still unmelted.
The beauty of a spring morning, and the wooded hills be-
hind the town, and a wish to observe their geological struc-
ture, drew us from our couches at an early hour. The
ground was enamelled with flowers of every description,—■
violets, anemones, crocuses, primroses, &c, forming a rich
carpet under the branches of the trees. Keeping along these
hills towards the west, we descended by a rocky path over
masses of marble and mica schist, of which the hills con-
sisted, into the deep glen behind the town. In the bottom of
the ravine we found the lower beds of limestone penetrated
to some distance by quartzose granitic veins, apparently the
terminations of large veins, and indicating the existence of
those plutonic rocks of which Mount Olympus is supposed
to consist.
We followed the stream down the ravine for some dis-
tance towards the town, until the steep cliffs by which it was
confined compelled us to cross it by a bridge, consisting
of a single plank only seven inches wide, fixed amongst
the rocks high above the bed of the stream. The scenery
was wild and beautiful, and a more substantial bridge
lower down enabled us to recross to our own side.
The origin of Brusa is very obscure, for although Pliny
ENVIRONS OF BRUSA.
73
was surprised to see the figure of a cross, which had escaped
destruction by the hands of the Turks. The tombs of the
conqueror and his family stand upon a raised dais in the
centre.
To the west of this mosque was the ruined castle, with
two gateways, one to the south and the other to the west,
on each side of which were some very rude bas-reliefs.
The area of the castle had been converted into gardens,
and nothing remained but the outer wall, of alternate
courses of brick and stone, flanked by several towers in a
state of ruin.
March 24. —Remained at Brusa. We had intended to
ascend Mount Olympus, but it was impossible to do so at
this season on account of the snow, which was still unmelted.
The beauty of a spring morning, and the wooded hills be-
hind the town, and a wish to observe their geological struc-
ture, drew us from our couches at an early hour. The
ground was enamelled with flowers of every description,—■
violets, anemones, crocuses, primroses, &c, forming a rich
carpet under the branches of the trees. Keeping along these
hills towards the west, we descended by a rocky path over
masses of marble and mica schist, of which the hills con-
sisted, into the deep glen behind the town. In the bottom of
the ravine we found the lower beds of limestone penetrated
to some distance by quartzose granitic veins, apparently the
terminations of large veins, and indicating the existence of
those plutonic rocks of which Mount Olympus is supposed
to consist.
We followed the stream down the ravine for some dis-
tance towards the town, until the steep cliffs by which it was
confined compelled us to cross it by a bridge, consisting
of a single plank only seven inches wide, fixed amongst
the rocks high above the bed of the stream. The scenery
was wild and beautiful, and a more substantial bridge
lower down enabled us to recross to our own side.
The origin of Brusa is very obscure, for although Pliny