DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5542#0087
Chap, xxxv.]
KIRVASIL.
77
appeared when the sun rose. The water was a little bitter,
with a slightty saline or brackish taste.
The ruins to which we had been directed proved to be re-
mains of Cyclopian walls, but of no great extent; others of
Hellenic construction also occurred close by, but we could
not ascertain their purpose. About a mile up the valley just
mentioned, the town of Kirvasil was pointed out to us, and
ruins were also said to exist near it, where a rocky hill rises
up in the middle of the valley: this, from its striking posi-
tion, may well have been an ancient Acropolis. Other ruins
are spoken of at a place called Pai'ri, about two hours
off to the S.S.E. The distance across the peninsula to the
coast opposite Rhodes is not great; the word may therefore
be a corruption for Persea, the name by which the Ehodians
designated that district.
Quitting this interesting neighbourhood before we had
time to complete our survey, we walked along the shore
as far as the church of St. George, where are more saline
springs close to the beach resembling those mentioned
above; entering the boat we then proceeded to the N.E.
extremity of the bay. Here a remarkable conical hill
rises out of the plain near the water's edge, on the sum-
mit of which we distinctly saw remains of walls and
ruins, but which we were prevented from visiting by the
change of weather and want of time. These ruins may
possibly mark the site of Asserena, laid down in Colonel
Leake's map.
I have already stated that I conceive the great opening
or bay which we discovered to the north of Cape Cynos
Soma to be the Gulf of Thymnias. According to Pliny,*
the Doridis Sinus only contained two subordinate bays,
Schcenus and Thymnias, whereas P. Melaf states that
there were three, Thymnias, Schoenus, and Bubassius.
Pliny also alludes to the rcgio Bubassus; and I am dis-
posed to adopt the classification of Mela, and to consider
* N. H., v. 29.
f Lib. i. c. 10.
KIRVASIL.
77
appeared when the sun rose. The water was a little bitter,
with a slightty saline or brackish taste.
The ruins to which we had been directed proved to be re-
mains of Cyclopian walls, but of no great extent; others of
Hellenic construction also occurred close by, but we could
not ascertain their purpose. About a mile up the valley just
mentioned, the town of Kirvasil was pointed out to us, and
ruins were also said to exist near it, where a rocky hill rises
up in the middle of the valley: this, from its striking posi-
tion, may well have been an ancient Acropolis. Other ruins
are spoken of at a place called Pai'ri, about two hours
off to the S.S.E. The distance across the peninsula to the
coast opposite Rhodes is not great; the word may therefore
be a corruption for Persea, the name by which the Ehodians
designated that district.
Quitting this interesting neighbourhood before we had
time to complete our survey, we walked along the shore
as far as the church of St. George, where are more saline
springs close to the beach resembling those mentioned
above; entering the boat we then proceeded to the N.E.
extremity of the bay. Here a remarkable conical hill
rises out of the plain near the water's edge, on the sum-
mit of which we distinctly saw remains of walls and
ruins, but which we were prevented from visiting by the
change of weather and want of time. These ruins may
possibly mark the site of Asserena, laid down in Colonel
Leake's map.
I have already stated that I conceive the great opening
or bay which we discovered to the north of Cape Cynos
Soma to be the Gulf of Thymnias. According to Pliny,*
the Doridis Sinus only contained two subordinate bays,
Schcenus and Thymnias, whereas P. Melaf states that
there were three, Thymnias, Schoenus, and Bubassius.
Pliny also alludes to the rcgio Bubassus; and I am dis-
posed to adopt the classification of Mela, and to consider
* N. H., v. 29.
f Lib. i. c. 10.