RUINS OP THE PLAIN OP TROY. 



structure, remain unto tliis hour. Pliny, moreover, mentions the 

 situation of the tomb as being in the very station of the Grecian 

 fleet; and, by giving its exact distance from Sigcum, not only 

 adds to our conviction of its identity, but marks at the same time, 

 most decisively, the position of the Portus Achaeornm. In all 

 that remains of former ages, I know of nothing likely to affect 

 the mind by emotions of local enthusiasm more powerfully than 

 this most interesting tomb. It is impossible to view its sublime 

 and simple form, without calling to mind the veneration so long 

 paid to it; without picturing to the imagination a successive series 

 of mariners, of kings and heroes, who from the Hellespont, or 

 by the shores of Troas and Chersonesus, or on the sepulcfire 

 itself, poured forth the tribute of their homage; and finally, 

 without representing to the mind the feelings of a native, or of a 

 traveller, in those times, who, after viewing the existing monu- 

 ment, and -witnessing the instances of public and private regard so 

 constantly bestowed upon it, should have been told the age was to 

 arrive when the existence of Troy, and of the mighty dead en. 

 tombed upon its plain, would be considered as having no founda. 

 tion in truth. 



The present appearance of the shrine, and of a small circular 

 superstruction, do not seem to indicate higher antiquity than the 

 age of the Romans. Some have believed, from the disclosure of 

 the shrine, that the tomb itself was opened; mistaking it for a 

 vault, although its situation near the summit might have contro. 

 verted the opinion. This was perhaps constructed when Augustus 

 restored the image Anthony had taken from the Aianteum. A 

 cement was certainly employed in the work ; and the remains of 

 it to this day offer an opportunity of confuting every prevailing 

 error concerning the buildings of the antients. The Greeks 

 erected many of their most stupendous edifices without cementa- 

 tion; hence it has been supposed that the appearance of mortar 

 in a building precludes its claim to antiquity. This notion is how- 

 ever set aside at once by reference to the pyramid* of Egypt : in 

 building these, mortar was undoubtedly used. 



The view here afforded of the Hellespont and the Plain of Troy 

 is one of the finest the country affords. Several plants, during 

 the season of our visit, were blooming upon the soil. Upon the 

 tomb itself we noticed the silvery mezereon, the poppy, the 

 beardless hypccoum, and the field star of Bethlehem. 



