DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.959#0267
202 TROY AND ITS REMAINS. [Chap. XII.
large excavations to the right and left of it, in order to lay
bare the whole; for, independently of the mighty interest
attached to this Tower, I must necessarily dig a channel to
allow the waters of the winter rains to run off, as they would
otherwise rush violently down from my platform (197 feet
in length, and with a considerable slope) against the Tower
and injure it. I have uncovered the Tower on the north
and south sides along the whole breadth of my trench, and
have convinced myself that it is built on the rocket a
depth of 14 meters or 46^ feet.
An elevated mass of calcareous earth, 6$h feet broad
and i6J feet high, rests upon the north side of the Tower,
and is evidently composed of the rubbish which had to be
removed in order to level the rock for building the Tower
upon it. I have of course pierced this hillock, and have
convinced myself that the north side of the Tower, i6\ feet
above the rock, does not consist of masonry, but of large
blocks of stone lying loosely one upon another, and that only
the upper part, about a yard high, consists of actual masonry.
This hillock, having the form of a rampart, thus serves to
consolidate the north side of the Tower, and renders it pos-
sible to ascend to the top without steps. The south side
of the Tower, looking out upon the Plain, consists of very
solid masonry, composed of blocks of limestone joined with
earth, some of the stones being hewn, others not. This
south side of the Tower rises from the rock at an angle
of 75 degrees.
None but those who have been present at these works
can have any idea of the enormous difficulties connected
with making excavations 46^ feet deep on the right and
left of the Tower, where the debris has to be carried off to
a distance of more than 262 feet. At this great distance
it is very fatiguing to work with wheel-barrows and man-
carts ; so I now keep seven carts drawn by horses, which I
find a very great relief.
The Tower is at present only 6 meters (20 feet high),
large excavations to the right and left of it, in order to lay
bare the whole; for, independently of the mighty interest
attached to this Tower, I must necessarily dig a channel to
allow the waters of the winter rains to run off, as they would
otherwise rush violently down from my platform (197 feet
in length, and with a considerable slope) against the Tower
and injure it. I have uncovered the Tower on the north
and south sides along the whole breadth of my trench, and
have convinced myself that it is built on the rocket a
depth of 14 meters or 46^ feet.
An elevated mass of calcareous earth, 6$h feet broad
and i6J feet high, rests upon the north side of the Tower,
and is evidently composed of the rubbish which had to be
removed in order to level the rock for building the Tower
upon it. I have of course pierced this hillock, and have
convinced myself that the north side of the Tower, i6\ feet
above the rock, does not consist of masonry, but of large
blocks of stone lying loosely one upon another, and that only
the upper part, about a yard high, consists of actual masonry.
This hillock, having the form of a rampart, thus serves to
consolidate the north side of the Tower, and renders it pos-
sible to ascend to the top without steps. The south side
of the Tower, looking out upon the Plain, consists of very
solid masonry, composed of blocks of limestone joined with
earth, some of the stones being hewn, others not. This
south side of the Tower rises from the rock at an angle
of 75 degrees.
None but those who have been present at these works
can have any idea of the enormous difficulties connected
with making excavations 46^ feet deep on the right and
left of the Tower, where the debris has to be carried off to
a distance of more than 262 feet. At this great distance
it is very fatiguing to work with wheel-barrows and man-
carts ; so I now keep seven carts drawn by horses, which I
find a very great relief.
The Tower is at present only 6 meters (20 feet high),