DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4377#0081
AND PLUTO BPIMACHOS. 4)11
they have been lying within, or very near inclo-
sures or chambers of the rudest masonry.
By reference to the plan it will be seen that the
inclosurcs form three principal groups, situated
respectively at the eastern and western extremity
of the temenos, and a little to the east of the centre.
It has been already pointed out that the walls of
these inclosurcs arc put together in the roughest
manner, while, on the other hand, squared blocks
of tertiary limestone, faced with stucco, were found
here and there in their courses. The occurrence of
these blocks, and of the architectural remains in
the soil already noticed, renders it probable that
some Hellenic edifice once stood on this site, and
that after its destruction some of its materials were
employed in the ruder inclosures. It is natural to
suppose that this Hellenic edifice was the oixog
mentioned in an inscription which has been
already cited. If the architectural fragments dis-
covered in the temenos belong to this building, it
is evident from their scale and material that it could
not have been either large or sumptuous. It was
most probably a small temple, ucuo-xog, resembling
an heroon, as represented on vases. The various
statues and other votive monuments in the temenos,
probably stood in the open air on bases, in the line
in which I found their remains, or in the niches
cut in the face of the rock.
It would appear that at some time or other in
antiquity the temple and statues were thrown down
and scattered about, cither by an earthquake or the
hand of man; but the ground continued to be ac-
2 e 2 .
they have been lying within, or very near inclo-
sures or chambers of the rudest masonry.
By reference to the plan it will be seen that the
inclosurcs form three principal groups, situated
respectively at the eastern and western extremity
of the temenos, and a little to the east of the centre.
It has been already pointed out that the walls of
these inclosurcs arc put together in the roughest
manner, while, on the other hand, squared blocks
of tertiary limestone, faced with stucco, were found
here and there in their courses. The occurrence of
these blocks, and of the architectural remains in
the soil already noticed, renders it probable that
some Hellenic edifice once stood on this site, and
that after its destruction some of its materials were
employed in the ruder inclosures. It is natural to
suppose that this Hellenic edifice was the oixog
mentioned in an inscription which has been
already cited. If the architectural fragments dis-
covered in the temenos belong to this building, it
is evident from their scale and material that it could
not have been either large or sumptuous. It was
most probably a small temple, ucuo-xog, resembling
an heroon, as represented on vases. The various
statues and other votive monuments in the temenos,
probably stood in the open air on bases, in the line
in which I found their remains, or in the niches
cut in the face of the rock.
It would appear that at some time or other in
antiquity the temple and statues were thrown down
and scattered about, cither by an earthquake or the
hand of man; but the ground continued to be ac-
2 e 2 .