DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4692#0037
28 THE COASTS OF ^EOLIA, loXIA. AND CARTA.
PRIENE. (From Ionian Antiquities, Part I.)
The acropolis is situated upon a natural terrace, encircled, excepting towards the plain, by an ancient wall
of the masonry termed pseudisodomum. This has been repaired and made tenable in a later age by additional
outworks. A steep, high, and naked rock rises behind, and the terrace terminates in front in a most abrupt
and formidable precipice, whence the spectator looks down with awe on the diminutive objects beneath.
The massive heap of the temple below appears to the naked eye but as (shippings of marble.
A winding track leads down from the acropolis to the city; the steps cut in the rock are narrow;
the path no wider than sufficient to permit the approach of a single person.
The Temple of Minerva Polias, although prostrate, is one of the remains of Ionian elegance and
grandeur too considerable to be hastily or slightly examined. When entire, it overlooked the city, which
was seated on the side of the mountain on terraces cut out of the slope, descending in gradation to the
edge of the plain. The communication from one terrace to another was by staircases cut in the solid rock,
many of which are still remaining. Below the temple are the ruins of the agora, consisting of fragments of
the Doric and Ionic orders of architecture.
On a lower terrace the remains of a stadium are seen, one of its sides being supported by the ancient
wall of the city, which is strengthened by buttresses, for the purpose of resisting the pressure of the
masonry forming the seats of the stadium on the side next the plain. The seats of the opposite side still
remain.
All the buildings are constructed with the marble of the mountain, which in some instances assumes a
dark hue, although the general tint is grey. The whole circuit of the city Avails may be easily traced
descending from the acropolis to the plain; many masses remain worthy of admiration for their solidity and
beauty. There are also considerable remains of an inner wall of equal importance.
The city was approached by three gates: one of them is towards Kelibesh; beyond it are vaults and
sepulchres hewn in the rock. Another is in the wall facing the plain; the descent to it is rugged and steep;
the steps are continued beyond the gateway to a fountain, now surrounded by a marsh.
The site of Priene is entirely deserted; there are three mills and the house of a baker at the foot of
the mountain to the east of the city, at a spot now called Samsun; and beyond this the Turkish village of
Kelibesh, consisting of about twelve houses. Higher up, to the north of this, is Giaur Kelibesh, a modern
Greek village of about two hundred houses, in a flourishing condition and daily increasing.
LABEANDA. (Prom Ionian Antiquities, Part II.)
On the way from Iassus to Mendelet, which is distant four hours, and three from Mylasa, we left the
level green, and riding northwards, through stubble of Turkish wheat, came in an hour to a beautiful and
extensive plain, covered with vines, olive and fig-trees, and flocks and herds feeding ; and skirted by
mountains with villages. We crossed it by a winding road, with the country house of the Aga of Mylasa
on our right hand; and passing a village called Jacklys, unexpectedly discovered the solemn ruins of a
temple; but as it was dusk, we continued our journey to Mendelet, which was an hour farther on.
The temple was of the Corinthian order, sixteen columns with part of their entablature standing; the
cell and roof demolished. It is in a nook or recess; the front, which is towards the east, close by the
mountain foot, the back and one side overlooking the plain. The style of the architecture is noble, and
made us regret that some members, and in particular the angle of the cornice, were wanting. Its marbles
have been melted away as it wrere piecemeal in the furnaces for making lime, which are still in use close by
the ruin. A town has ranged with the temple on the north. The wall, beginning near it, makes a circuit
on the hill, and descends ma the side toAvards Mendelet. The thickets, which have overrun the site, are
almost impenetrable, and prevented my pursuing it to the top; but the loAver portion may easily be traced.
It had square toAvers at intervals, and was of a similar construction with the wall at Ephesus. Within it is
a theatre cut in the rock, with some seats remaining. In the vineyards beneath are broken columns and
marble fragments; and in one, behind the temple, tAVO massive sarcophagi, carved with festoons and heads;
the lids on, and a hole made by force in their sides. They arc raised on a pediment, and, as you approach,
appear like two piers of a gateAvay. Beyond the temple are also some ruins of sepulchres. I was much
disappointed in finding no inscriptions to inform us of the name of this deserted place, which from its position
on a mountain by the wayside, and its distance from Mylasa, I am inclined to believe Avas Labranda.
PRIENE. (From Ionian Antiquities, Part I.)
The acropolis is situated upon a natural terrace, encircled, excepting towards the plain, by an ancient wall
of the masonry termed pseudisodomum. This has been repaired and made tenable in a later age by additional
outworks. A steep, high, and naked rock rises behind, and the terrace terminates in front in a most abrupt
and formidable precipice, whence the spectator looks down with awe on the diminutive objects beneath.
The massive heap of the temple below appears to the naked eye but as (shippings of marble.
A winding track leads down from the acropolis to the city; the steps cut in the rock are narrow;
the path no wider than sufficient to permit the approach of a single person.
The Temple of Minerva Polias, although prostrate, is one of the remains of Ionian elegance and
grandeur too considerable to be hastily or slightly examined. When entire, it overlooked the city, which
was seated on the side of the mountain on terraces cut out of the slope, descending in gradation to the
edge of the plain. The communication from one terrace to another was by staircases cut in the solid rock,
many of which are still remaining. Below the temple are the ruins of the agora, consisting of fragments of
the Doric and Ionic orders of architecture.
On a lower terrace the remains of a stadium are seen, one of its sides being supported by the ancient
wall of the city, which is strengthened by buttresses, for the purpose of resisting the pressure of the
masonry forming the seats of the stadium on the side next the plain. The seats of the opposite side still
remain.
All the buildings are constructed with the marble of the mountain, which in some instances assumes a
dark hue, although the general tint is grey. The whole circuit of the city Avails may be easily traced
descending from the acropolis to the plain; many masses remain worthy of admiration for their solidity and
beauty. There are also considerable remains of an inner wall of equal importance.
The city was approached by three gates: one of them is towards Kelibesh; beyond it are vaults and
sepulchres hewn in the rock. Another is in the wall facing the plain; the descent to it is rugged and steep;
the steps are continued beyond the gateway to a fountain, now surrounded by a marsh.
The site of Priene is entirely deserted; there are three mills and the house of a baker at the foot of
the mountain to the east of the city, at a spot now called Samsun; and beyond this the Turkish village of
Kelibesh, consisting of about twelve houses. Higher up, to the north of this, is Giaur Kelibesh, a modern
Greek village of about two hundred houses, in a flourishing condition and daily increasing.
LABEANDA. (Prom Ionian Antiquities, Part II.)
On the way from Iassus to Mendelet, which is distant four hours, and three from Mylasa, we left the
level green, and riding northwards, through stubble of Turkish wheat, came in an hour to a beautiful and
extensive plain, covered with vines, olive and fig-trees, and flocks and herds feeding ; and skirted by
mountains with villages. We crossed it by a winding road, with the country house of the Aga of Mylasa
on our right hand; and passing a village called Jacklys, unexpectedly discovered the solemn ruins of a
temple; but as it was dusk, we continued our journey to Mendelet, which was an hour farther on.
The temple was of the Corinthian order, sixteen columns with part of their entablature standing; the
cell and roof demolished. It is in a nook or recess; the front, which is towards the east, close by the
mountain foot, the back and one side overlooking the plain. The style of the architecture is noble, and
made us regret that some members, and in particular the angle of the cornice, were wanting. Its marbles
have been melted away as it wrere piecemeal in the furnaces for making lime, which are still in use close by
the ruin. A town has ranged with the temple on the north. The wall, beginning near it, makes a circuit
on the hill, and descends ma the side toAvards Mendelet. The thickets, which have overrun the site, are
almost impenetrable, and prevented my pursuing it to the top; but the loAver portion may easily be traced.
It had square toAvers at intervals, and was of a similar construction with the wall at Ephesus. Within it is
a theatre cut in the rock, with some seats remaining. In the vineyards beneath are broken columns and
marble fragments; and in one, behind the temple, tAVO massive sarcophagi, carved with festoons and heads;
the lids on, and a hole made by force in their sides. They arc raised on a pediment, and, as you approach,
appear like two piers of a gateAvay. Beyond the temple are also some ruins of sepulchres. I was much
disappointed in finding no inscriptions to inform us of the name of this deserted place, which from its position
on a mountain by the wayside, and its distance from Mylasa, I am inclined to believe Avas Labranda.