DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4377#0128
458 SUPPOSED TEMPLE OF VENUS,
and other buildings of the later Roman period, and
Doric, though, doubtless, the order preferred by
the original colony, is in the extant architecture
rather the exception than the rule. Lucian de-
scribes the temenos of the Aphrodisium as abound-
ing in trees and ornamental shrubs, which afforded
a grateful shade to the citizens. The platform
which surrounds the Corinthian temple does not
seem naturally suited for such a temenos. The
situation is much exposed in winter to the north
wind, which sweeps over the city with extraordinary
fury. The soil is of the most arid kind, and con-
tains no springs. Doubtless, it may have been
irrigated by artificial conduits ; but even then the
site would not have had that sheltered and retired
chai*acter which, according to Lucian, formed its
great charm. His description would rather lead
us to look for the site on ground picturesquely
broken by ravines and sheltered by the mountains.
With a view of clearing up the question to
what deity the Corinthian temple was dedicated,
we made an excavation in its ruins in two places, but
found nothing to encourage us to proceed. Neither
inscriptions nor the relics of any earlier temple on
the same site rewarded our search.
I next proceeded to examine a mass of ruins
lying on the north side of the platform, a little to
the north-east of the temple. Among these ruins
I noticed a large block of marble bearing an in-
scription, Plate XCIIL, No. 52, originally pub-
lished by Mr. W. J. Hamilton.0
" Travels id Asia Minor, ii.p. 4-oD, No. 294.
and other buildings of the later Roman period, and
Doric, though, doubtless, the order preferred by
the original colony, is in the extant architecture
rather the exception than the rule. Lucian de-
scribes the temenos of the Aphrodisium as abound-
ing in trees and ornamental shrubs, which afforded
a grateful shade to the citizens. The platform
which surrounds the Corinthian temple does not
seem naturally suited for such a temenos. The
situation is much exposed in winter to the north
wind, which sweeps over the city with extraordinary
fury. The soil is of the most arid kind, and con-
tains no springs. Doubtless, it may have been
irrigated by artificial conduits ; but even then the
site would not have had that sheltered and retired
chai*acter which, according to Lucian, formed its
great charm. His description would rather lead
us to look for the site on ground picturesquely
broken by ravines and sheltered by the mountains.
With a view of clearing up the question to
what deity the Corinthian temple was dedicated,
we made an excavation in its ruins in two places, but
found nothing to encourage us to proceed. Neither
inscriptions nor the relics of any earlier temple on
the same site rewarded our search.
I next proceeded to examine a mass of ruins
lying on the north side of the platform, a little to
the north-east of the temple. Among these ruins
I noticed a large block of marble bearing an in-
scription, Plate XCIIL, No. 52, originally pub-
lished by Mr. W. J. Hamilton.0
" Travels id Asia Minor, ii.p. 4-oD, No. 294.