DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5541#0544
Chap, xxix.]
DISAPPEARANCE OF THE LYCUS.
511
it. According to both Herodotus and Xenophon, Colossae
was between Laodicea and Celsenaj; but Herodotus states
that the Lycus disappeared in the town of Colossse, and
flowed for five stadia through the chasm, after which it fell
into the Maeander. Mr. Arundel looked in vain to the moun-
tains for a place, where a natural and copious spring should
exhibit the re-emergence of a river after a subterranean
course, and does not appear to have visited this spot in the
middle of the plain. On examining the narrow gorge
below the bridge, through which the united rivers flow,
I found that the Ak Su (white water) had formerly fallen
into the Lycus lower down than where it now joins it, in fact
exactly where the chasm is the narrowest; another large
stream also falls over the cliff on the south side of the river,
equally possessed of strong petrifying or incrusting qualities,
and exemplifying in a remarkable manner the formation of
these cliffs of travertine, and the burying or silting up of
whatever plants or other substances might be in its way.
This petrifying stream now falls over a thickly-wooded
bank, although it appears formerly to have flowed over
the cliff lower down, having been diverted from its former
course by the gradual accumulation of its own deposit.
The western extremity of this wooded cliff, which is close to
the narrow gorge, is completely incrusted; and the rich
vegetation, enveloped in a destructive garb of stone, has
lost every trace of beauty. This dreary covering gra-
dually ceases towards the east; and, after passing through
every stage and gradation of incrustation, the cliff re-appears
at the eastern end clothed with a luxuriant vegetation; yet
even here the stream already trickles with its deceitful drops
over the flourishing shrubs and plants, which it is slowly be-
ginning to inclose in its stony case, and, as the incrustation
becomes complete in any one spot, the stream of water is
checked, and forced to flow in a new line.
By this operation the cliffs on either side have been gra-
dually formed; and it is evident that if the water always
flowed in the same channel, these cliffs would approach each
DISAPPEARANCE OF THE LYCUS.
511
it. According to both Herodotus and Xenophon, Colossae
was between Laodicea and Celsenaj; but Herodotus states
that the Lycus disappeared in the town of Colossse, and
flowed for five stadia through the chasm, after which it fell
into the Maeander. Mr. Arundel looked in vain to the moun-
tains for a place, where a natural and copious spring should
exhibit the re-emergence of a river after a subterranean
course, and does not appear to have visited this spot in the
middle of the plain. On examining the narrow gorge
below the bridge, through which the united rivers flow,
I found that the Ak Su (white water) had formerly fallen
into the Lycus lower down than where it now joins it, in fact
exactly where the chasm is the narrowest; another large
stream also falls over the cliff on the south side of the river,
equally possessed of strong petrifying or incrusting qualities,
and exemplifying in a remarkable manner the formation of
these cliffs of travertine, and the burying or silting up of
whatever plants or other substances might be in its way.
This petrifying stream now falls over a thickly-wooded
bank, although it appears formerly to have flowed over
the cliff lower down, having been diverted from its former
course by the gradual accumulation of its own deposit.
The western extremity of this wooded cliff, which is close to
the narrow gorge, is completely incrusted; and the rich
vegetation, enveloped in a destructive garb of stone, has
lost every trace of beauty. This dreary covering gra-
dually ceases towards the east; and, after passing through
every stage and gradation of incrustation, the cliff re-appears
at the eastern end clothed with a luxuriant vegetation; yet
even here the stream already trickles with its deceitful drops
over the flourishing shrubs and plants, which it is slowly be-
ginning to inclose in its stony case, and, as the incrustation
becomes complete in any one spot, the stream of water is
checked, and forced to flow in a new line.
By this operation the cliffs on either side have been gra-
dually formed; and it is evident that if the water always
flowed in the same channel, these cliffs would approach each