DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4945#0264
The Croesus Structure. 253
where a Hellenistic pier has pressed down the neighbouring slabs as
much as • 14.
Pavement Foundations within Cclla,—Within the cella, although no
marble pavement has survived, other than that projecting from below the
plinth courses at the W. end and S. side, the foundation courses of much
of it are in situ. Here, as in the peristyle, there were sometimes two,
sometimes three thicknesses of limestone blocks, each usually from -35 to -25
in height). The largest block seen by us was "54 high, but this was an
exception to the general rule. As has been stated in Chapter III. (p. 37),
these blocks failed along a ragged belt in the western part of the axis of the
cella, having been removed probably by Wood ; and also S.E. of the
Basis, where quarrying of an unusually thorough sort had been carried out.
They failed also, owing to more ancient disturbance, in certain other places.
(1) In a belt about 5-00 broad, measured inwards from both the N. and
S. walls, their place was taken by a concrete mass composed of fragments
of marble, including bits of both architectural ornament and sculpture of all
periods, from the sixth century to the Roman era, Imperial inscriptions, Roman
brick, etc., the whole bound together by cement of very great strength. This
concrete must have been inserted in late Roman or in Byzantine times, after
both Hellenistic and Croesus foundations had been removed, and have been
intended to support the walls of the late building, called by Wood a church
(see p. 11). (2) Within these belts, N. and S., the D foundation courses
were again found in situ, but were presently interrupted again at a distance
of 8 • 00 from the cella walls, by certain wall foundations, alluded to above
in Chapter IV. (p. 68), which ran parallel to the N. and S. cella walls,
and were connected by a cross wall returning 1' 50 to E. of the Basis.
These foundations consisted of facings of small coursed stones, bonded on the
outer sides with the limestone foundation blocks of the D pavement, but with
inner faces upright, and not bonded with the pavement foundations, which
reappeared in the centre of the cella area (Fig. 64). These wall-foundations
had only one set-off, on the outer face, and Primitive structures had been
cut away to allow of them being carried down to the necessary depth, viz.,
about —4-10; but at the S.W. end a fragment of a Primitive structure
had been left abutting (see p. 69), which served to prolong the D foundations.
The western end of the northern wall-foundation had been wholly destroyed.
The wall-foundations in question were, on an average, "ji broad on the N.,
•83 on the S., and '74 on the E. side. The S. wall, where best preserved,
had nine courses and rose to —3' 26; the N. wall seven courses, rising
where a Hellenistic pier has pressed down the neighbouring slabs as
much as • 14.
Pavement Foundations within Cclla,—Within the cella, although no
marble pavement has survived, other than that projecting from below the
plinth courses at the W. end and S. side, the foundation courses of much
of it are in situ. Here, as in the peristyle, there were sometimes two,
sometimes three thicknesses of limestone blocks, each usually from -35 to -25
in height). The largest block seen by us was "54 high, but this was an
exception to the general rule. As has been stated in Chapter III. (p. 37),
these blocks failed along a ragged belt in the western part of the axis of the
cella, having been removed probably by Wood ; and also S.E. of the
Basis, where quarrying of an unusually thorough sort had been carried out.
They failed also, owing to more ancient disturbance, in certain other places.
(1) In a belt about 5-00 broad, measured inwards from both the N. and
S. walls, their place was taken by a concrete mass composed of fragments
of marble, including bits of both architectural ornament and sculpture of all
periods, from the sixth century to the Roman era, Imperial inscriptions, Roman
brick, etc., the whole bound together by cement of very great strength. This
concrete must have been inserted in late Roman or in Byzantine times, after
both Hellenistic and Croesus foundations had been removed, and have been
intended to support the walls of the late building, called by Wood a church
(see p. 11). (2) Within these belts, N. and S., the D foundation courses
were again found in situ, but were presently interrupted again at a distance
of 8 • 00 from the cella walls, by certain wall foundations, alluded to above
in Chapter IV. (p. 68), which ran parallel to the N. and S. cella walls,
and were connected by a cross wall returning 1' 50 to E. of the Basis.
These foundations consisted of facings of small coursed stones, bonded on the
outer sides with the limestone foundation blocks of the D pavement, but with
inner faces upright, and not bonded with the pavement foundations, which
reappeared in the centre of the cella area (Fig. 64). These wall-foundations
had only one set-off, on the outer face, and Primitive structures had been
cut away to allow of them being carried down to the necessary depth, viz.,
about —4-10; but at the S.W. end a fragment of a Primitive structure
had been left abutting (see p. 69), which served to prolong the D foundations.
The western end of the northern wall-foundation had been wholly destroyed.
The wall-foundations in question were, on an average, "ji broad on the N.,
•83 on the S., and '74 on the E. side. The S. wall, where best preserved,
had nine courses and rose to —3' 26; the N. wall seven courses, rising