DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4692#0047
38 DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES.
is a small postern. The great gateway is at the extremity of the Via Sacra. Below this point the ground
falls rapidly; but all the walls are constructed with the same care, and are everywhere well preserved, except
in the lower part of the town, where the streams from the mountains have carried them away.
Another small fort, diagonally placed with regard to the other, but more extensive, defends the south
part of the town. No traces of gateways are to be found on this side. We again mount towards the
north to a gateway still well preserved, but neither so rich nor so perfect as the former. This is also placed
in a re-entering angle, proving that this arrangement was part of the system of fortification.
The walls on the north-east have completely disappeared; probably they have been employed in con-
structing the walls of the citadel. A wall of less thickness than the exterior ramparts joins the foot of
the Acropolis, and runs as far as the internal angle at the west side of the great gateway. It was no
doubt intended to divide the city into two distinct quarters,—a common custom amongst the Persians, which
is still seen in modern Persian towns. In parts of the circuit the wall forms terraces. All the masonry
is bossy, and worked with the greatest care.
GATEWAYS.
The system of the defence of gateways varied little amongst the ancients; generally the gateways were
at the end of a square or circular enclosure; sometimes the walls were carried in front of the gateways,
the towers making salient angles from the walls: this is the case at Assos. The principal gateway is north-
west of the town, and is on the plan of two square towers, forming a salient angle equal to their depth,
behind which is the opening of the gateway. It is to be remarked in this gateway, that the imposts have no
rebate, so that the gate shut against the masonry. In elevation, the outside is surmounted by a pointed
arch, constructed on the horizontal principle. The doorway itself is square-headed, composed of two stones
side by side. On the town side the doorway is surmounted by a semicircular arch, also constructed on
the horizontal principle. This is no doubt of great antiquity, and it tends to confirm the opinion that arches
with voussoirs were then unknown amongst the Greeks. The pointed arch, so little employed by the
Homans, is found in Asia from the eighth to the fifth century before the Christian era; as in the tomb of
Tantalus and the Lycian tombs.
At the side of the great gateway is a postern of perfect construction. The third gate is situated at
the east of the town; the arch has fallen down: it is in all respects similar to those described.
ACROPOLIS AND TEMPLE.
The Acropolis occupies all the summit of an elevated and inaccessible rock, composed of large basaltic
prisms; it is approached on the north side by a footpath, formed in the midst of the rocks; on all other sides
there are precipices, which defended the town from surprises. In the centre of the Acropolis was a temple
of the Doric order, which, on account of its archaic character, is distinguished from all known temples of
the same style in Italy, Sicily, or Greece. Its columns, short and massive, are less than five diameters high, and
have ten flutes. The shaft is much diminished; and the capitals, of which an example may be seen at the
Louvre, have an extraordinarily great projection. The temple of Assos was hexastyle, and had thirteen
columns at the side: the result of this arrangement was that the cella was extremely narrow. The roof was
covered with tiles, of which fragments were discovered on digging.
That which distinguishes this temple from all others is the architrave, which is decorated with a series
of bas-reliefs amidst the ruins, and now in the Louvre.
We may suppose that the iEolians were established in the Troad soon after the time of the Trojan
war. Many other migrations took place from Greece to Asia; but when the Persians conquered the country,
the iEolians were widely spread, and their government had already undergone many revolutions.
Some of the bas-reliefs which we shall describe have much more an Egyptian character than Greek.
It is fair to presume then that the temple was erected in the 5th century before the Christian era.
The sculpture is in low relief, forming a long band, in the most ancient style, the subjects being easy
of explanation. At the extremities of the frieze are two bulls, in the attitude of combat; and in the centre
of the architrave two sphinxes seated, face to face.
One of the bas-reliefs represents the combat of Menelaus and Proteus on the shores of Egypt.
Proteus was a king of Egypt: the Greeks believed that he was a deity, and had the power of assuming any
form he pleased. He received Helen, and entertained her during the siege of Troy, until Menelaus compelled
him to yield her up. The bas-relief represents Proteus—half man, half fish—endeavouring to escape in the
is a small postern. The great gateway is at the extremity of the Via Sacra. Below this point the ground
falls rapidly; but all the walls are constructed with the same care, and are everywhere well preserved, except
in the lower part of the town, where the streams from the mountains have carried them away.
Another small fort, diagonally placed with regard to the other, but more extensive, defends the south
part of the town. No traces of gateways are to be found on this side. We again mount towards the
north to a gateway still well preserved, but neither so rich nor so perfect as the former. This is also placed
in a re-entering angle, proving that this arrangement was part of the system of fortification.
The walls on the north-east have completely disappeared; probably they have been employed in con-
structing the walls of the citadel. A wall of less thickness than the exterior ramparts joins the foot of
the Acropolis, and runs as far as the internal angle at the west side of the great gateway. It was no
doubt intended to divide the city into two distinct quarters,—a common custom amongst the Persians, which
is still seen in modern Persian towns. In parts of the circuit the wall forms terraces. All the masonry
is bossy, and worked with the greatest care.
GATEWAYS.
The system of the defence of gateways varied little amongst the ancients; generally the gateways were
at the end of a square or circular enclosure; sometimes the walls were carried in front of the gateways,
the towers making salient angles from the walls: this is the case at Assos. The principal gateway is north-
west of the town, and is on the plan of two square towers, forming a salient angle equal to their depth,
behind which is the opening of the gateway. It is to be remarked in this gateway, that the imposts have no
rebate, so that the gate shut against the masonry. In elevation, the outside is surmounted by a pointed
arch, constructed on the horizontal principle. The doorway itself is square-headed, composed of two stones
side by side. On the town side the doorway is surmounted by a semicircular arch, also constructed on
the horizontal principle. This is no doubt of great antiquity, and it tends to confirm the opinion that arches
with voussoirs were then unknown amongst the Greeks. The pointed arch, so little employed by the
Homans, is found in Asia from the eighth to the fifth century before the Christian era; as in the tomb of
Tantalus and the Lycian tombs.
At the side of the great gateway is a postern of perfect construction. The third gate is situated at
the east of the town; the arch has fallen down: it is in all respects similar to those described.
ACROPOLIS AND TEMPLE.
The Acropolis occupies all the summit of an elevated and inaccessible rock, composed of large basaltic
prisms; it is approached on the north side by a footpath, formed in the midst of the rocks; on all other sides
there are precipices, which defended the town from surprises. In the centre of the Acropolis was a temple
of the Doric order, which, on account of its archaic character, is distinguished from all known temples of
the same style in Italy, Sicily, or Greece. Its columns, short and massive, are less than five diameters high, and
have ten flutes. The shaft is much diminished; and the capitals, of which an example may be seen at the
Louvre, have an extraordinarily great projection. The temple of Assos was hexastyle, and had thirteen
columns at the side: the result of this arrangement was that the cella was extremely narrow. The roof was
covered with tiles, of which fragments were discovered on digging.
That which distinguishes this temple from all others is the architrave, which is decorated with a series
of bas-reliefs amidst the ruins, and now in the Louvre.
We may suppose that the iEolians were established in the Troad soon after the time of the Trojan
war. Many other migrations took place from Greece to Asia; but when the Persians conquered the country,
the iEolians were widely spread, and their government had already undergone many revolutions.
Some of the bas-reliefs which we shall describe have much more an Egyptian character than Greek.
It is fair to presume then that the temple was erected in the 5th century before the Christian era.
The sculpture is in low relief, forming a long band, in the most ancient style, the subjects being easy
of explanation. At the extremities of the frieze are two bulls, in the attitude of combat; and in the centre
of the architrave two sphinxes seated, face to face.
One of the bas-reliefs represents the combat of Menelaus and Proteus on the shores of Egypt.
Proteus was a king of Egypt: the Greeks believed that he was a deity, and had the power of assuming any
form he pleased. He received Helen, and entertained her during the siege of Troy, until Menelaus compelled
him to yield her up. The bas-relief represents Proteus—half man, half fish—endeavouring to escape in the