DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4855#0006
ANCIENT MONUMENTS
OF
LYDIA AND PHRYGIA
Having occasion to proceed from Smyrna to Constantinople, I resolved on undertaking the journey
by land, in the expectation of passing through an interesting country, which, though frequently
traversed, had not been so thoroughly investigated as to preclude the hope of still encountering new
objects of antiquarian research.
On the 16th of March, 1837, having made the necessary preparations, I set off from Smyrna,
accompanied by an Armenian merchant, with whom I had on a former occasion travelled from
Tabriz to Constantinople. His great knowledge of the languages of the East, and his happy facility
in ingratiating himself with the varied classes and tribes which compose an Asiatic population, were
advantages of rare occurrence: nor should I probably have attempted the journey, had I not been
seconded by this able assistant. We arrived at Manessia the same day: it is a large and flourishing Manessia, or
Magnesia ad
city, and was anciently known by the denomination of Magnesia ad Sipylum, from its being situated SlPylum-
on the side of the celebrated mountain of that name. I remained there a few days, during which
we made several excursions in the neighbourhood. One of our first was a visit to the famous statue
of Niobe, which was noticed nearly 150 years ago by Chishull, though I am not aware that it
has been particularly described by any subsequent traveller. The description given of it in 1699,
by Chishull, is as follows :—
" We continued our journey under the foot of Sipylus, which, about two hours from the city
(Manessia), ends in a stupendous precipice, consisting of a naked massy stone, and rising perpendicular
almost a furlong high. It was not a little surprising, as we rode along under the foot of the hill,
to observe a certain cliff of the rock, representing an exact niche and statue, with the due shape and
proportion of a human body. For, Sipylus being the seat of the transformation of the unhappy
Niobe, there was ground of imagining, that we had either met with her statue, or with that which
was the first occasion of the fable; at least it was not improbable that this was the work of some
ancient inhabitants of this place, who pleased themselves in fashioning the natural rock into such a
figure as might preserve the tradition of this celebrated poetic fiction."
Not having ever seen any representation of this singular statue, I undertook to delineate it to statue of Niobe.
the best of my ability; and in order the better to examine it, I clambered up the rock, which is here
very steep, and with some difficulty reached the interesting monument. The accompanying Plate
will shew, better than any description I can give, the general appearance of the statue, which is
B
OF
LYDIA AND PHRYGIA
Having occasion to proceed from Smyrna to Constantinople, I resolved on undertaking the journey
by land, in the expectation of passing through an interesting country, which, though frequently
traversed, had not been so thoroughly investigated as to preclude the hope of still encountering new
objects of antiquarian research.
On the 16th of March, 1837, having made the necessary preparations, I set off from Smyrna,
accompanied by an Armenian merchant, with whom I had on a former occasion travelled from
Tabriz to Constantinople. His great knowledge of the languages of the East, and his happy facility
in ingratiating himself with the varied classes and tribes which compose an Asiatic population, were
advantages of rare occurrence: nor should I probably have attempted the journey, had I not been
seconded by this able assistant. We arrived at Manessia the same day: it is a large and flourishing Manessia, or
Magnesia ad
city, and was anciently known by the denomination of Magnesia ad Sipylum, from its being situated SlPylum-
on the side of the celebrated mountain of that name. I remained there a few days, during which
we made several excursions in the neighbourhood. One of our first was a visit to the famous statue
of Niobe, which was noticed nearly 150 years ago by Chishull, though I am not aware that it
has been particularly described by any subsequent traveller. The description given of it in 1699,
by Chishull, is as follows :—
" We continued our journey under the foot of Sipylus, which, about two hours from the city
(Manessia), ends in a stupendous precipice, consisting of a naked massy stone, and rising perpendicular
almost a furlong high. It was not a little surprising, as we rode along under the foot of the hill,
to observe a certain cliff of the rock, representing an exact niche and statue, with the due shape and
proportion of a human body. For, Sipylus being the seat of the transformation of the unhappy
Niobe, there was ground of imagining, that we had either met with her statue, or with that which
was the first occasion of the fable; at least it was not improbable that this was the work of some
ancient inhabitants of this place, who pleased themselves in fashioning the natural rock into such a
figure as might preserve the tradition of this celebrated poetic fiction."
Not having ever seen any representation of this singular statue, I undertook to delineate it to statue of Niobe.
the best of my ability; and in order the better to examine it, I clambered up the rock, which is here
very steep, and with some difficulty reached the interesting monument. The accompanying Plate
will shew, better than any description I can give, the general appearance of the statue, which is
B