DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9841#0135
116
ruins, near khadhros, of
[chap.
the north of Khadhros, and find that the ancient re-
mains, of which I am in search, are situated on a conical
hill about a mile to the south, and which we passed on
our left as we descended into the valley of Kantanos.
The site is of course on the eastern side of this valley,
and is easily distinguished by the ruins of the little
chapel of Haghia Irene, which crown its summit. After
obtaining a crust of bread and some misithra at the
cottage, I proceed to examine the ancient remains.
From the summit we have a fine view of the valley
of Kantanos: we are three or four miles from the sea,
to which the valley leads in a southerly direction: the
little villages designated by the common term Kantanos
are near its north-eastern extremity : the hills on both
sides of the valley are well covered with olive-trees for
a considerable way up their sides. Near the chapel of
Haghia Irene I searched in vain for traces of any ancient
building. The hill has two peaks, and the chapel is
situated on the southernmost of them : these peaks are
formed by a cleft in the rock ten feet wide, forty to
sixty feet high, and about two hundred paces long,
in a direction north-west and south-east. One sees
plainly that it is the effect of an earthquake: the irre-
gularities of the surfaces on the two sides correspond
so faithfully, that if they could again be brought to-
gether they would fit accurately : the rock is limestone,
and small stalactites are formed on some of its over-
hanging portions.
Remains of walls, which are here, as at so many
other sites, almost the only evidence now left us of
the existence of an ancient city, are found on the
eastern and south-eastern sides of the hill of Haghia
Irene. They are traceable for little more than one
hundred and fifty paces. The style of their masonry
however attests a high antiquity: and thus, in one day,
I have had the good fortune to find the sites of two
as yet unvisited ante-Homeric cities. I may add that,
about twelve paces from these remains, are some slight
ruins, near khadhros, of
[chap.
the north of Khadhros, and find that the ancient re-
mains, of which I am in search, are situated on a conical
hill about a mile to the south, and which we passed on
our left as we descended into the valley of Kantanos.
The site is of course on the eastern side of this valley,
and is easily distinguished by the ruins of the little
chapel of Haghia Irene, which crown its summit. After
obtaining a crust of bread and some misithra at the
cottage, I proceed to examine the ancient remains.
From the summit we have a fine view of the valley
of Kantanos: we are three or four miles from the sea,
to which the valley leads in a southerly direction: the
little villages designated by the common term Kantanos
are near its north-eastern extremity : the hills on both
sides of the valley are well covered with olive-trees for
a considerable way up their sides. Near the chapel of
Haghia Irene I searched in vain for traces of any ancient
building. The hill has two peaks, and the chapel is
situated on the southernmost of them : these peaks are
formed by a cleft in the rock ten feet wide, forty to
sixty feet high, and about two hundred paces long,
in a direction north-west and south-east. One sees
plainly that it is the effect of an earthquake: the irre-
gularities of the surfaces on the two sides correspond
so faithfully, that if they could again be brought to-
gether they would fit accurately : the rock is limestone,
and small stalactites are formed on some of its over-
hanging portions.
Remains of walls, which are here, as at so many
other sites, almost the only evidence now left us of
the existence of an ancient city, are found on the
eastern and south-eastern sides of the hill of Haghia
Irene. They are traceable for little more than one
hundred and fifty paces. The style of their masonry
however attests a high antiquity: and thus, in one day,
I have had the good fortune to find the sites of two
as yet unvisited ante-Homeric cities. I may add that,
about twelve paces from these remains, are some slight