DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5541#0541
508
CHONOS, ANC. CHONiE.
[Chap. xxix.
same origin. We would also inquire what can have been
the powerful solvent which has acted upon the calcareous
rocks through which these waters flow, and charged them
with so large a proportion of calcareous particles 1 May
we not find this solvent in the saline matter of the neigh-
bouring hills ?
From Kaldek to Chonos our course was nearly S.W. At
the sixth mile we crossed a clear and rapid stream flowing
W.N.W. from a wooded ravine on our left, having its
sources apparently in a lofty chain of mountains visible to
the S.E. On our right was a plain extending to the west,
down which this river, probably the ancient Lycus, flowed
towards the Majander. At eleven we reached Chonos, a
large and straggling village of 200 houses, twenty or thirty
of which are Greek. It is said to have contained formerly
three times that number of houses, or rather families, but
it has suffered much of late years. Chonos is situated on
a rising bank sloping gently towards the north, on which
much tobacco is grown, 12,000 okes being sold annually
to the Turcoman tribes and peasants in the neighbour-
hood. Many fine walnut-trees are seen in the grounds
about the village.
This place derives its interest from standing on the site
of Chona3, a town which grew into importance on the de-
struction of Colossoe, situated in its immediate vicinity,
and one of the most interesting and flourishing cities of
Asia Minor. Chonse is chiefly known from being the
birthplace of Nicetas, the Byzantine historian, whence his
name of Choniates; the magnificent church, dedicated to
the archangel Michael, was burnt by the Turks. It
has been visited and described by Mr. Arundel,* who
mentions the existence of numerous columns and other
fragments of antiquity in all the walls and houses. The
only remains of buildings are the ruins of a castle on a rocky
platform above the village, and at the foot of a steep and
precipitous range of mountains, from which a small stream,
* Arundel, Seven Churches, p. 92.
CHONOS, ANC. CHONiE.
[Chap. xxix.
same origin. We would also inquire what can have been
the powerful solvent which has acted upon the calcareous
rocks through which these waters flow, and charged them
with so large a proportion of calcareous particles 1 May
we not find this solvent in the saline matter of the neigh-
bouring hills ?
From Kaldek to Chonos our course was nearly S.W. At
the sixth mile we crossed a clear and rapid stream flowing
W.N.W. from a wooded ravine on our left, having its
sources apparently in a lofty chain of mountains visible to
the S.E. On our right was a plain extending to the west,
down which this river, probably the ancient Lycus, flowed
towards the Majander. At eleven we reached Chonos, a
large and straggling village of 200 houses, twenty or thirty
of which are Greek. It is said to have contained formerly
three times that number of houses, or rather families, but
it has suffered much of late years. Chonos is situated on
a rising bank sloping gently towards the north, on which
much tobacco is grown, 12,000 okes being sold annually
to the Turcoman tribes and peasants in the neighbour-
hood. Many fine walnut-trees are seen in the grounds
about the village.
This place derives its interest from standing on the site
of Chona3, a town which grew into importance on the de-
struction of Colossoe, situated in its immediate vicinity,
and one of the most interesting and flourishing cities of
Asia Minor. Chonse is chiefly known from being the
birthplace of Nicetas, the Byzantine historian, whence his
name of Choniates; the magnificent church, dedicated to
the archangel Michael, was burnt by the Turks. It
has been visited and described by Mr. Arundel,* who
mentions the existence of numerous columns and other
fragments of antiquity in all the walls and houses. The
only remains of buildings are the ruins of a castle on a rocky
platform above the village, and at the foot of a steep and
precipitous range of mountains, from which a small stream,
* Arundel, Seven Churches, p. 92.