DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4679#0246
220 VI. COLOSSAI AND THE ROADS TO THE EAST.
and descends on the valley of the Maeander opposite Siblia. The
same path was followed by a Byzantine road, which appears as a
route from the Lycos valley towards the inner country in the later
wars, whereas the road by Apameia lost its former pre-eminence.
What cause can have led to the adoption of the new route? The
reason cannot have been the difference of 487 ft. in the summit level
of the two routes 1, for that is nothing in comparison with the ascents
which have to be faced further east; and moreover the line of the
old Eastern Highway is more advantageous further on. In this
change of road there lies the explanation of the general course of later
history for this district, the decay of Apameia and the growth of
Siblia. Let us examine the road as a whole.
The road goes straight towards the Maeander, crosses it by a bridge
now called Tchandir-Keupreu (2,750 ft.) and passes a considerable
ancient site Vicus on the other side. Here it forks, according as we
wish to go left to the high-lying village Khoma (the ancient Siblia)
or to continue the journey to the east. In the latter case we have to
cross Djebel-Sultan (Sultan's Mountain) by the Duz-Bel, ascending
the steep grassy hillside by a sharp ascent of fully 1,500 ft. On
reaching the brow a broad depression in the ridge2 stretches before us.
After three miles we cross the ruins of a wall, which once evidently
was a defence for the pass. One mile further we are near the highest
level, 600 ft. above the brow, and 4,850 above the sea. Here the road,
which has come nearly due east from the bridge, forks3. The left-
hand branch, after a mile or so, turns N.E. and descends by a short
and rough gap to the Glaukos valley (Sanduklu-Ova), near the city
Stektorion (3,500 ft.). The right-hand branch turns at once a little
south of east4, and descends a narrow gorge among the hills now
called Turrije-Boghaz for several miles.
After issuing from the Turrije-Boghaz, the road continues east
across open country5 (about 4,000 ft.) which forms the watershed
between the Glaukos on the north and a stream that flows south to
the country Aurokra and the lake Aulokrene. It then crosses a broad
flat ridge, the southern part of Gumalar-Dagh, rising to about 4,800 ft.,
1 This in itself would be a sufficient a Bel, literally xvaist.
reason for the course of the railway; 3 The fork is a little before, i. e. west
but the desire to shorten the connexion of, the summit.
with Eumeneia is an additional reason. 4 109° is the compass-reading, making
But the long easy slope up to the about 104° on the map.
summit on the Apameian route is no 5 Kiepert's map makes it pass through
obstacle in a horse or carriage road. Kizil-Euren ; but this is not correct. It
2 This is what in Turkish is called pa.sses about two m. south of the village.
and descends on the valley of the Maeander opposite Siblia. The
same path was followed by a Byzantine road, which appears as a
route from the Lycos valley towards the inner country in the later
wars, whereas the road by Apameia lost its former pre-eminence.
What cause can have led to the adoption of the new route? The
reason cannot have been the difference of 487 ft. in the summit level
of the two routes 1, for that is nothing in comparison with the ascents
which have to be faced further east; and moreover the line of the
old Eastern Highway is more advantageous further on. In this
change of road there lies the explanation of the general course of later
history for this district, the decay of Apameia and the growth of
Siblia. Let us examine the road as a whole.
The road goes straight towards the Maeander, crosses it by a bridge
now called Tchandir-Keupreu (2,750 ft.) and passes a considerable
ancient site Vicus on the other side. Here it forks, according as we
wish to go left to the high-lying village Khoma (the ancient Siblia)
or to continue the journey to the east. In the latter case we have to
cross Djebel-Sultan (Sultan's Mountain) by the Duz-Bel, ascending
the steep grassy hillside by a sharp ascent of fully 1,500 ft. On
reaching the brow a broad depression in the ridge2 stretches before us.
After three miles we cross the ruins of a wall, which once evidently
was a defence for the pass. One mile further we are near the highest
level, 600 ft. above the brow, and 4,850 above the sea. Here the road,
which has come nearly due east from the bridge, forks3. The left-
hand branch, after a mile or so, turns N.E. and descends by a short
and rough gap to the Glaukos valley (Sanduklu-Ova), near the city
Stektorion (3,500 ft.). The right-hand branch turns at once a little
south of east4, and descends a narrow gorge among the hills now
called Turrije-Boghaz for several miles.
After issuing from the Turrije-Boghaz, the road continues east
across open country5 (about 4,000 ft.) which forms the watershed
between the Glaukos on the north and a stream that flows south to
the country Aurokra and the lake Aulokrene. It then crosses a broad
flat ridge, the southern part of Gumalar-Dagh, rising to about 4,800 ft.,
1 This in itself would be a sufficient a Bel, literally xvaist.
reason for the course of the railway; 3 The fork is a little before, i. e. west
but the desire to shorten the connexion of, the summit.
with Eumeneia is an additional reason. 4 109° is the compass-reading, making
But the long easy slope up to the about 104° on the map.
summit on the Apameian route is no 5 Kiepert's map makes it pass through
obstacle in a horse or carriage road. Kizil-Euren ; but this is not correct. It
2 This is what in Turkish is called pa.sses about two m. south of the village.