DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4855#0009
ANCIENT MONUMENTS OE LYDIA AND PHRYGIA.
Gygean Lake,
and ancient
tombs.
Ghiordiz, or
Julio-Gordus.
Cleon. Inscrip-
tion on the rock.
Sirghe, or Bagse.
Ghiobek.
Blaundus.
Ushak.
iEzani, or
Chav-der.
Kiutaieh, or
Cotyaeum.
These sculptures may either be ex votos, or allude to subjects connected with the baths. The
discovery of the latter may possibly be commemorated by the representation of the Phrygian hunts-
man and his dogs. A group somewhat similar is seen on a rare and beautiful Sicilian medal of
Segeste, on which a young huntsman is looking down with attention on something discovered
by his two dogs.
I may mention having visited the Gygean Lake, and the interesting tumuli which border its
shore ; these are the tombs of the ancient kings of Lydia: amongst others, that of Halyattes, the
father of Croesus, rises pre-eminent. On its summit may still be perceived the remains of a
pavement of brick, and a decayed fragment of one of the pillars which decorated this gigantic
mound. Most of these tumuli being intact, I felt a strong desire to explore their innermost recesses ;
and we indulged in a long train of speculation on the most expedient mode of realising this fascinating
project, which, though attended with difficulties, we agreed was by no means impracticable, if
properly managed.
I also passed over to Ghiordiz, the ancient Gordus, or Julio-Gordus, where I copied several
interesting inscriptions ; amongst others, two with the name of the city, which had hitherto escaped
the notice of travellers. I repaired also to the neighbouring village and stupendous peak of Khyadjik,
near which I discovered the stronghold of Cleon, the celebrated predatory chief, restorer of Gordus,
as mentioned by Strabo. The extraordinary and all but inaccessible position sufficiently indicated
the fastness of the chieftain ; and I was confirmed in this idea by actually discovering in its precincts
an inscription with his name cut out in the rock.
My route led me through the neighbourhood of Tabula to Sirghe, the ancient Bagae, and from
thence to Ghiobek, near the ruins of an ancient city, described by Arundel as Clanudda ; but which
I ascertained to be Blaundus, not only from many coins of Blaundus found there — one of which
I myself picked up — but also from the inscription on a tombstone in a Turkish cemetery at Ghiobek,
which I ascertained, from the son of the man over whose grave it stood, to have been brought
from Blaundus, now Solyman-li.
I proceeded from this to Ushak, famous for being the place where the largest Turkey carpets
are manufactured: its ancient name has not yet been ascertained. Our next stage was Ghiediz,
formerly Cadi, situated at a distance of eight miles from the Hermus, and not upon it, as has
been generally supposed. We then proceeded to Chav-der, a village on the site of the ancient
iEzani, where may be contemplated the fine remains of the Temple formerly sacred to Jupiter
iEzanitus, the Theatre, and many other minor objects, which are strewed around with a luxuriance
sufficient to satisfy the most craving antiquarian appetite. The principal of these have been
already described by numerous scientific and talented travellers. At length we reached Kiutaieh,
the ancient Cotyeeum, which I had long looked forward to as the station from whence I was to
penetrate into the recesses of Dogan-lu, the antiquities of which had many years ago made a strange
impression on my imagination, in consequence of the description given by Colonel Leake of a
monument which he and his party had discovered there.
Kiutaieh is a fine town, with good bazaars and shops ; it is remarkable as being the extreme
station occupied by Ibrahim Bey and his Egyptian troops, of whom we heard a good deal. It
was also occupied for some time by the army of Tamerlane when moving against Bajazet: its
fertile plain, watered by the Thymbrus or Pursek, affords immense resources for the maintenance
and encampment of troops, particularly cavalry. In the town are still to be seen many remains
of antiquity ; and, amongst other inscriptions, I copied one with the name of the city, which had
escaped the notice of preceding travellers.
Gygean Lake,
and ancient
tombs.
Ghiordiz, or
Julio-Gordus.
Cleon. Inscrip-
tion on the rock.
Sirghe, or Bagse.
Ghiobek.
Blaundus.
Ushak.
iEzani, or
Chav-der.
Kiutaieh, or
Cotyaeum.
These sculptures may either be ex votos, or allude to subjects connected with the baths. The
discovery of the latter may possibly be commemorated by the representation of the Phrygian hunts-
man and his dogs. A group somewhat similar is seen on a rare and beautiful Sicilian medal of
Segeste, on which a young huntsman is looking down with attention on something discovered
by his two dogs.
I may mention having visited the Gygean Lake, and the interesting tumuli which border its
shore ; these are the tombs of the ancient kings of Lydia: amongst others, that of Halyattes, the
father of Croesus, rises pre-eminent. On its summit may still be perceived the remains of a
pavement of brick, and a decayed fragment of one of the pillars which decorated this gigantic
mound. Most of these tumuli being intact, I felt a strong desire to explore their innermost recesses ;
and we indulged in a long train of speculation on the most expedient mode of realising this fascinating
project, which, though attended with difficulties, we agreed was by no means impracticable, if
properly managed.
I also passed over to Ghiordiz, the ancient Gordus, or Julio-Gordus, where I copied several
interesting inscriptions ; amongst others, two with the name of the city, which had hitherto escaped
the notice of travellers. I repaired also to the neighbouring village and stupendous peak of Khyadjik,
near which I discovered the stronghold of Cleon, the celebrated predatory chief, restorer of Gordus,
as mentioned by Strabo. The extraordinary and all but inaccessible position sufficiently indicated
the fastness of the chieftain ; and I was confirmed in this idea by actually discovering in its precincts
an inscription with his name cut out in the rock.
My route led me through the neighbourhood of Tabula to Sirghe, the ancient Bagae, and from
thence to Ghiobek, near the ruins of an ancient city, described by Arundel as Clanudda ; but which
I ascertained to be Blaundus, not only from many coins of Blaundus found there — one of which
I myself picked up — but also from the inscription on a tombstone in a Turkish cemetery at Ghiobek,
which I ascertained, from the son of the man over whose grave it stood, to have been brought
from Blaundus, now Solyman-li.
I proceeded from this to Ushak, famous for being the place where the largest Turkey carpets
are manufactured: its ancient name has not yet been ascertained. Our next stage was Ghiediz,
formerly Cadi, situated at a distance of eight miles from the Hermus, and not upon it, as has
been generally supposed. We then proceeded to Chav-der, a village on the site of the ancient
iEzani, where may be contemplated the fine remains of the Temple formerly sacred to Jupiter
iEzanitus, the Theatre, and many other minor objects, which are strewed around with a luxuriance
sufficient to satisfy the most craving antiquarian appetite. The principal of these have been
already described by numerous scientific and talented travellers. At length we reached Kiutaieh,
the ancient Cotyeeum, which I had long looked forward to as the station from whence I was to
penetrate into the recesses of Dogan-lu, the antiquities of which had many years ago made a strange
impression on my imagination, in consequence of the description given by Colonel Leake of a
monument which he and his party had discovered there.
Kiutaieh is a fine town, with good bazaars and shops ; it is remarkable as being the extreme
station occupied by Ibrahim Bey and his Egyptian troops, of whom we heard a good deal. It
was also occupied for some time by the army of Tamerlane when moving against Bajazet: its
fertile plain, watered by the Thymbrus or Pursek, affords immense resources for the maintenance
and encampment of troops, particularly cavalry. In the town are still to be seen many remains
of antiquity ; and, amongst other inscriptions, I copied one with the name of the city, which had
escaped the notice of preceding travellers.