DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4692#0041
32 THE COASTS OF JEOU.A, IONIA, AND CAIUA.
Another statue, still more damaged, was found a little lower down the hill. Both these had evidently
belonged to the temple, which was probably that of the Clarian Apollo. There were a few drums of columns
remaining within the peribolus, but no capitals nor architrave-stones.
Beyond the temple there were several detached groups of ruins, which appeared to be those of public
monuments. Near one of these we dug up a headless male figure, clad in a Roman toga. The head and right
arm were wanting, and the drapery of the right knee broken off; otherwise the figure was in good condition. The
feet were entire, and had sandals. The statue was larger than life-size, and probably was that of a Roman
emperor. A little to the north of this spot there had been a colonnade of rude Doric columns; and adjoining it,
at the crown of the hill overlooking the valley, were the foundations of a smaller temple, with columns in anils.
The architrave, frieze, and cornice were lying near. They measured respectively l-60 ft., 1-01 ft., and 1*80 ft. The
cornice had a plain cymatium, corona, dentils, and a small cavetto moulding. The frieze was decorated with the
caput bovis between wreaths. The architrave had two fascias. This building also had been of the Ionic order.
In the middle of a thicket near the temple, we dug up a large portion of a draped colossal statue, which
had probably stood in the cella. The folds of the drapery were quite straight, so that the statue was either
of the revived archaic period, or was a figure of an early time, which had been placed in a temple of later date.
It may have been the statue of the Clarian Apollo, a representation of which we find on the coins of Colophon.
The cemetery was situated on the opposite side of a ravine, which separated the hill upon which the town stood
from the main range of Mount Aleman.
Here were a few tablets with monumental inscriptions, but none that threw any light upon the name
of the town. At the foot of the hill, half buried in the soil, was what appeared to be the figure of an animal.
Upon digging around it, we found it was that of a lion in the act of devouring a bull, a subject very common in
Asiatic sculptures. The workmanship was rude and the figures much worn, but sufficiently perfect to show that
they had an archaic character.
We spent several days at Ghaiour-keui. Our usual plan was to walk down to the ruins in the morning,
and to return at sunset. The valley is perfectly flat, and appears to have been formerly covered, to a great
extent, by the sea. On the north side of it, immediately opposite the hill upon which the ruins stand, there is a
cave in the face of the rock, and within it a spring of clear water. This is probably the cave of Mopsus, in which
was the oracle of the Clarian Apollo.
Although the ruins are marked as those of Claros on the Admiralty map, there is good reason to suppose them
to be those of Colophon. We know that Colophon had a port, and that the Colophonians possessed ships; and
as there is no evidence of the previous existence of a port on any part of the neighbouring road, it is probable
that it was situated at the head of the valley, the sea having receded here as it has done in the valley of the
Cayster, and in that of the Masander.
If this had been the case, the cave of the Clarian Apollo, now only half a mile from the ruins of the town,
would have been a much greater distance if the circuit of the harbour had to be made.
Again, Colophon was a city of considerable importance,- and had it been situated higher up the valley,
certainly some slight traces of it would have been visible, for it is seldom that all traces of an inland city entirely
disappear. Livy certainly states that Colophon was two miles from the sea; but, on the other hand, Tacitus
mentions that the Emperor Germanicus landed at Colophon for the purpose of consulting the oracle of Claros.
Notium was the port of Colophon. This name may possibly have been given to a few houses situated in the
valley near the harbour, the remains of which may probably be buried by the alluvial soil, which is there very
deep.
While at Ghaiour-keui, I was desirous of exploring the coast between Colophon and the mouth of the Cayster,
and of visiting the ruins I had seen in December, when on the road to Scala Nuova. We left at an early hour
in the morning, hoping to be able to return before dark. Ascending by a rough mountain-road from the ravine
near the ruins, we followed the line of coast for about two hours, and then descended into a marshy valley,
through which ran a stream. Here we found a number of fishermen, who were employed in catching fish
by stupefying them with some noxious compound, and securing them as they rose to the surface of the
water. We then passed over a range of sand-hills into the valley of the Cayster, which here is sand and
swamp. Skirting the side of a vast lagoon, we at length reached the river Cayster, which we crossed by
means of a ferry-boat, leaving our horses behind.
Prom this point we began to ascend the hill upon which Ortygia stood, according to the Admiralty
Chart. But we were much disappointed, on reaching the ruins, to find them only those of a second-rate
Byzantine fortress. The precipitous nature of the ground upon which this fortress stood precluded the idea
of its being the site of Ortygia, in which place there were many temples. The Hellenic foundations in the
valley near were of no importance.
As it was getting late when our inspection was completed, we hastened to rejoin our horses, and
galloped across the plain; but notwithstanding our haste, we were benighted in the mountains upon one
of the worse roads of the country. As the path consisted of jagged rocks, and as it was quite dark, Mrs.
Pullan thought it the safest plan to dismount, and proceed on foot; upon which her horse broke loose, and
mounted the hill-side, rejoicing in its freedom. While I went to her assistance, my horse also escaped; and
we were compelled to proceed on foot slowly. Our guides being active mountaineers, at length caught one
Another statue, still more damaged, was found a little lower down the hill. Both these had evidently
belonged to the temple, which was probably that of the Clarian Apollo. There were a few drums of columns
remaining within the peribolus, but no capitals nor architrave-stones.
Beyond the temple there were several detached groups of ruins, which appeared to be those of public
monuments. Near one of these we dug up a headless male figure, clad in a Roman toga. The head and right
arm were wanting, and the drapery of the right knee broken off; otherwise the figure was in good condition. The
feet were entire, and had sandals. The statue was larger than life-size, and probably was that of a Roman
emperor. A little to the north of this spot there had been a colonnade of rude Doric columns; and adjoining it,
at the crown of the hill overlooking the valley, were the foundations of a smaller temple, with columns in anils.
The architrave, frieze, and cornice were lying near. They measured respectively l-60 ft., 1-01 ft., and 1*80 ft. The
cornice had a plain cymatium, corona, dentils, and a small cavetto moulding. The frieze was decorated with the
caput bovis between wreaths. The architrave had two fascias. This building also had been of the Ionic order.
In the middle of a thicket near the temple, we dug up a large portion of a draped colossal statue, which
had probably stood in the cella. The folds of the drapery were quite straight, so that the statue was either
of the revived archaic period, or was a figure of an early time, which had been placed in a temple of later date.
It may have been the statue of the Clarian Apollo, a representation of which we find on the coins of Colophon.
The cemetery was situated on the opposite side of a ravine, which separated the hill upon which the town stood
from the main range of Mount Aleman.
Here were a few tablets with monumental inscriptions, but none that threw any light upon the name
of the town. At the foot of the hill, half buried in the soil, was what appeared to be the figure of an animal.
Upon digging around it, we found it was that of a lion in the act of devouring a bull, a subject very common in
Asiatic sculptures. The workmanship was rude and the figures much worn, but sufficiently perfect to show that
they had an archaic character.
We spent several days at Ghaiour-keui. Our usual plan was to walk down to the ruins in the morning,
and to return at sunset. The valley is perfectly flat, and appears to have been formerly covered, to a great
extent, by the sea. On the north side of it, immediately opposite the hill upon which the ruins stand, there is a
cave in the face of the rock, and within it a spring of clear water. This is probably the cave of Mopsus, in which
was the oracle of the Clarian Apollo.
Although the ruins are marked as those of Claros on the Admiralty map, there is good reason to suppose them
to be those of Colophon. We know that Colophon had a port, and that the Colophonians possessed ships; and
as there is no evidence of the previous existence of a port on any part of the neighbouring road, it is probable
that it was situated at the head of the valley, the sea having receded here as it has done in the valley of the
Cayster, and in that of the Masander.
If this had been the case, the cave of the Clarian Apollo, now only half a mile from the ruins of the town,
would have been a much greater distance if the circuit of the harbour had to be made.
Again, Colophon was a city of considerable importance,- and had it been situated higher up the valley,
certainly some slight traces of it would have been visible, for it is seldom that all traces of an inland city entirely
disappear. Livy certainly states that Colophon was two miles from the sea; but, on the other hand, Tacitus
mentions that the Emperor Germanicus landed at Colophon for the purpose of consulting the oracle of Claros.
Notium was the port of Colophon. This name may possibly have been given to a few houses situated in the
valley near the harbour, the remains of which may probably be buried by the alluvial soil, which is there very
deep.
While at Ghaiour-keui, I was desirous of exploring the coast between Colophon and the mouth of the Cayster,
and of visiting the ruins I had seen in December, when on the road to Scala Nuova. We left at an early hour
in the morning, hoping to be able to return before dark. Ascending by a rough mountain-road from the ravine
near the ruins, we followed the line of coast for about two hours, and then descended into a marshy valley,
through which ran a stream. Here we found a number of fishermen, who were employed in catching fish
by stupefying them with some noxious compound, and securing them as they rose to the surface of the
water. We then passed over a range of sand-hills into the valley of the Cayster, which here is sand and
swamp. Skirting the side of a vast lagoon, we at length reached the river Cayster, which we crossed by
means of a ferry-boat, leaving our horses behind.
Prom this point we began to ascend the hill upon which Ortygia stood, according to the Admiralty
Chart. But we were much disappointed, on reaching the ruins, to find them only those of a second-rate
Byzantine fortress. The precipitous nature of the ground upon which this fortress stood precluded the idea
of its being the site of Ortygia, in which place there were many temples. The Hellenic foundations in the
valley near were of no importance.
As it was getting late when our inspection was completed, we hastened to rejoin our horses, and
galloped across the plain; but notwithstanding our haste, we were benighted in the mountains upon one
of the worse roads of the country. As the path consisted of jagged rocks, and as it was quite dark, Mrs.
Pullan thought it the safest plan to dismount, and proceed on foot; upon which her horse broke loose, and
mounted the hill-side, rejoicing in its freedom. While I went to her assistance, my horse also escaped; and
we were compelled to proceed on foot slowly. Our guides being active mountaineers, at length caught one