DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4376#0334
316 EXCAVATIONS ON SEVERAL SITES—BITDRUM.
On reference to the plan of Budrum (Plate I.),
it will be seen that the platform marked " Temple
of Mars" in the chart, lies a little to the south of
the wall of the ancient city, at a point Avhere the
hill makes a dip between two fortified heights, the
two most elevated posts in the whole line of circum-
vallation, and, therefore, both to be included in the
expression, sum/ma arx.
Of these strongholds or arces, the one on the
west is a conical hill of tufaceous rock, thrown up by
volcanic agency to the height of 520' above the sea;
that on the east juts out into a long salient angle
to the north-east, rising above the town in precipi-
tous crags, and was, doubtless, one of the strongest
parts of the ancient fortifications.
A temple lying between two such fortified heights
might thus be described as placed in summa arce
media, in the midst of, or between, the two highest
and strongest posts in the northern wall of Hali-
carnassus. It is true that the words in summa
arce media may be translated "in the centre of
the highest citadel," or " of the citadel at the
summit," and in this sense Dr. Ross1* has under-
stood the passage; but to such a mode of interpre-
tation this strong objection may be made—that it
cannot be reconciled with the actual features of the
locality. Neither of the two heights can strictly
be called a citadel, nor has the summit of either
of them a sufficient extent of level area to afford
a site for a temple, which, from the mode in which
h Reisen, ii. p. 37..
On reference to the plan of Budrum (Plate I.),
it will be seen that the platform marked " Temple
of Mars" in the chart, lies a little to the south of
the wall of the ancient city, at a point Avhere the
hill makes a dip between two fortified heights, the
two most elevated posts in the whole line of circum-
vallation, and, therefore, both to be included in the
expression, sum/ma arx.
Of these strongholds or arces, the one on the
west is a conical hill of tufaceous rock, thrown up by
volcanic agency to the height of 520' above the sea;
that on the east juts out into a long salient angle
to the north-east, rising above the town in precipi-
tous crags, and was, doubtless, one of the strongest
parts of the ancient fortifications.
A temple lying between two such fortified heights
might thus be described as placed in summa arce
media, in the midst of, or between, the two highest
and strongest posts in the northern wall of Hali-
carnassus. It is true that the words in summa
arce media may be translated "in the centre of
the highest citadel," or " of the citadel at the
summit," and in this sense Dr. Ross1* has under-
stood the passage; but to such a mode of interpre-
tation this strong objection may be made—that it
cannot be reconciled with the actual features of the
locality. Neither of the two heights can strictly
be called a citadel, nor has the summit of either
of them a sufficient extent of level area to afford
a site for a temple, which, from the mode in which
h Reisen, ii. p. 37..