DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4855#0008
ANCIENT MONUMENTS OF LYDIA AND PHRYGIA. 3
which separates the two chambers : in these are several troughs or coffins, hollowed out in the
rock; but no remains of decorations or inscriptions are visible. The whole is executed in a simple
and severe style, free from the least appearance of ornament, but chiselled with the greatest nicety ;
it appears to be in the most perfect state,— the hardness of the stone, and the precaution of
isolating the sepulchre, having preserved it from the effects of damp. The length of the portion
into which the vaults extend does not exceed one-fifth of the length of the cube, which was
probably intended for a family burial-place, but prevented by accidental circumstances from having
been completed beyond what we now see. The great expense and labour which must have been
bestowed on this work; the extraordinary precautions taken to secure its durability; together
with the prominent position it occupies,— seem to point out a royal tomb, whilst its extreme simplicity
refers it to a very early age. Its plan differs from all others with which I am acquainted.
The places we visited in the neighbourhood were, Cassaba, Thyatira (Ak-Hissar), Sardis, Phila- Places visited.
delphia (Ala-Sheper), Kula, Ghiuldeh, Attala, and Menneh; in all of these sites we found interesting
remains of antiquity.
At a small village, to the west of Kula, known by the name of Humam, we remained a day; Humam.
it is noticed in Major Keppel's Journal, and appears to have been a small watering-place. The
Turks, as its name implies, still make use of the warm and other mineral springs in the vicinity,
and have erected two baths, one for men, the other for the women. We noticed here remains
of ancient baths, a theatre of very small dimensions, numerous cippi and altars, and several sepulchres
excavated in the rock, or formed of massive stones ; but we looked in vain for inscriptions. The Probably de-
stroyed by an
whole appearance of the place impressed us with the idea that it had been destroyed by an earth- earthquake.
quake; and, judging from the style of the architecture, this catastrophe must have occurred at
an early period of the empire — probably not later than the reign of Tiberius. It is also probable
that the devastation had never been repaired, as we saw no vestiges of a more recent style of building.
I was principally struck with the remains of some figures, in alto-relievo, cut out on the white Sculptures on
the rock.
marble rock, and which form the subject of Plate IV.
The following is an extract from my Journal : —
" The first object which arrested our attention was a kind of recess in the marble rock, some
little way above the baths, having three niches with sculptures, but so sadly defaced, that the
precise signification of them is not at first apparent. The principal one represents a youth in the
Phrygian bonnet, holding a cup or rhyton in his right hand ; a dog below is looking up to him,
and another has his nose to the ground, as if smelling or drinking; the left arm rests on some-
thing totally undistinguishable, but having somewhat the shape of an animal's head; the arm is
bent, and raised up towards his head; but it is impossible to say whether holding any thing. The
form of the rhyton is that of a ram's head; an elegant festoon surrounds the niche; the substance
appears to be rather puckered drapery, confined by bardeans, than any flower or fruit. On the
left is another niche, having the representation of a female entering a bath ; a screen or sheet is
suspended from a tree, and there is some semblance of a bow : a garland of ears of corn ornaments
the niche; and a small column of the same separates it from the larger one. The third niche
is on another front of the rock, forming an angle with the preceding; it is very much mutilated.
It represents the figure of a dead man ; at his feet a woman looks on in an attitude of mourning ; and
his head appears to be supported by another female; while a third, kneeling on the corpse, seems from
the attitude to have suddenly arrived. This is indicated by a circular drapery, in the form of a
scallop-shell, floating above her head; it may even denote her being a goddess just alighted from
Olympus. Above this rock are many remains of ancient edifices."
which separates the two chambers : in these are several troughs or coffins, hollowed out in the
rock; but no remains of decorations or inscriptions are visible. The whole is executed in a simple
and severe style, free from the least appearance of ornament, but chiselled with the greatest nicety ;
it appears to be in the most perfect state,— the hardness of the stone, and the precaution of
isolating the sepulchre, having preserved it from the effects of damp. The length of the portion
into which the vaults extend does not exceed one-fifth of the length of the cube, which was
probably intended for a family burial-place, but prevented by accidental circumstances from having
been completed beyond what we now see. The great expense and labour which must have been
bestowed on this work; the extraordinary precautions taken to secure its durability; together
with the prominent position it occupies,— seem to point out a royal tomb, whilst its extreme simplicity
refers it to a very early age. Its plan differs from all others with which I am acquainted.
The places we visited in the neighbourhood were, Cassaba, Thyatira (Ak-Hissar), Sardis, Phila- Places visited.
delphia (Ala-Sheper), Kula, Ghiuldeh, Attala, and Menneh; in all of these sites we found interesting
remains of antiquity.
At a small village, to the west of Kula, known by the name of Humam, we remained a day; Humam.
it is noticed in Major Keppel's Journal, and appears to have been a small watering-place. The
Turks, as its name implies, still make use of the warm and other mineral springs in the vicinity,
and have erected two baths, one for men, the other for the women. We noticed here remains
of ancient baths, a theatre of very small dimensions, numerous cippi and altars, and several sepulchres
excavated in the rock, or formed of massive stones ; but we looked in vain for inscriptions. The Probably de-
stroyed by an
whole appearance of the place impressed us with the idea that it had been destroyed by an earth- earthquake.
quake; and, judging from the style of the architecture, this catastrophe must have occurred at
an early period of the empire — probably not later than the reign of Tiberius. It is also probable
that the devastation had never been repaired, as we saw no vestiges of a more recent style of building.
I was principally struck with the remains of some figures, in alto-relievo, cut out on the white Sculptures on
the rock.
marble rock, and which form the subject of Plate IV.
The following is an extract from my Journal : —
" The first object which arrested our attention was a kind of recess in the marble rock, some
little way above the baths, having three niches with sculptures, but so sadly defaced, that the
precise signification of them is not at first apparent. The principal one represents a youth in the
Phrygian bonnet, holding a cup or rhyton in his right hand ; a dog below is looking up to him,
and another has his nose to the ground, as if smelling or drinking; the left arm rests on some-
thing totally undistinguishable, but having somewhat the shape of an animal's head; the arm is
bent, and raised up towards his head; but it is impossible to say whether holding any thing. The
form of the rhyton is that of a ram's head; an elegant festoon surrounds the niche; the substance
appears to be rather puckered drapery, confined by bardeans, than any flower or fruit. On the
left is another niche, having the representation of a female entering a bath ; a screen or sheet is
suspended from a tree, and there is some semblance of a bow : a garland of ears of corn ornaments
the niche; and a small column of the same separates it from the larger one. The third niche
is on another front of the rock, forming an angle with the preceding; it is very much mutilated.
It represents the figure of a dead man ; at his feet a woman looks on in an attitude of mourning ; and
his head appears to be supported by another female; while a third, kneeling on the corpse, seems from
the attitude to have suddenly arrived. This is indicated by a circular drapery, in the form of a
scallop-shell, floating above her head; it may even denote her being a goddess just alighted from
Olympus. Above this rock are many remains of ancient edifices."