DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5541#0558
CllAP. XXX.]
TRIPOLIS.
525
Iu the evening, at the tatar's entreaty, I sent for some
dancing-boys, who are in great repute here. They come
principally from Aidin Ghieuzel Hissar, and go by the
name of Kutchuk, or little, a term as inappropriate as that
of boys, for they had all the appearance of full-grown men.
Their dancing was not graceful, yet the old Turk was
delighted with the performance. It consisted chiefly of
violent contortions of the body, and had, at least, the merit
of being difficult; their long clothes and tunics gave them
an air of great effeminacy.
Thursday, October 13.—I started early this morning to
visit the ruins of Tripolis for the purpose of fixing their
position by a meridian altitude. They are situated near
the village of Kash Yeniji, six or seven miles N.N.E. of
Sarai Kieui, and near the spot where the Mseander emerges
from a deep ravine, and enters the extensive plains through
which it flows almost uninterruptedly to the sea. Half an
hour N. of Sarai Kieui we crossed the muddy and winding
river, flowing slowly in a deep channel through the allu-
vial soil of the plain; I was told it was full of fish. The
bridge was narrow and dangerous, the thin planks laid across
were quite loose, and presented such gaps between them,
that we were recommended to cross it on foot. From
thence we turned E. to avoid a long ridge of hills extend-
ing into the plain from the W. ; we then proceeded nearly
due N. for three or four miles until we reached Tripolis,
situated in latitude 38° V N. The ruins themselves are un-
important ; they occupy the foot of a sloping hill, close to
the northern limits of the plain about a mile to the E. of
Kash Yeniji. The principal remains are parts of the city
wall, a theatre, a large building at the S.W. corner,
apparently a gymnasium, and the walls of another build-
ing near the theatre, containing three small windows. The
theatre, which faced the W.S.W., seems to have been
very large; it is now, together with the scena and pro-
scenium, one mass of ruins; but part of the foundation
still remains; small portions of the seats can also be distin-
TRIPOLIS.
525
Iu the evening, at the tatar's entreaty, I sent for some
dancing-boys, who are in great repute here. They come
principally from Aidin Ghieuzel Hissar, and go by the
name of Kutchuk, or little, a term as inappropriate as that
of boys, for they had all the appearance of full-grown men.
Their dancing was not graceful, yet the old Turk was
delighted with the performance. It consisted chiefly of
violent contortions of the body, and had, at least, the merit
of being difficult; their long clothes and tunics gave them
an air of great effeminacy.
Thursday, October 13.—I started early this morning to
visit the ruins of Tripolis for the purpose of fixing their
position by a meridian altitude. They are situated near
the village of Kash Yeniji, six or seven miles N.N.E. of
Sarai Kieui, and near the spot where the Mseander emerges
from a deep ravine, and enters the extensive plains through
which it flows almost uninterruptedly to the sea. Half an
hour N. of Sarai Kieui we crossed the muddy and winding
river, flowing slowly in a deep channel through the allu-
vial soil of the plain; I was told it was full of fish. The
bridge was narrow and dangerous, the thin planks laid across
were quite loose, and presented such gaps between them,
that we were recommended to cross it on foot. From
thence we turned E. to avoid a long ridge of hills extend-
ing into the plain from the W. ; we then proceeded nearly
due N. for three or four miles until we reached Tripolis,
situated in latitude 38° V N. The ruins themselves are un-
important ; they occupy the foot of a sloping hill, close to
the northern limits of the plain about a mile to the E. of
Kash Yeniji. The principal remains are parts of the city
wall, a theatre, a large building at the S.W. corner,
apparently a gymnasium, and the walls of another build-
ing near the theatre, containing three small windows. The
theatre, which faced the W.S.W., seems to have been
very large; it is now, together with the scena and pro-
scenium, one mass of ruins; but part of the foundation
still remains; small portions of the seats can also be distin-