THE LAST STANDING COLUMN OF THE GREAT TEMPLE OF HERA: ISLAND OF SAMOS 



"Herodotus declared that the Temple of Hera was the largest seen by him in all his 

 travels. All that remains of this great temple today is one solitary column, with a number 

 of drums missing at the top and heaps of ruins scattered about, partly hidden by high weeds. 

 The whole scene is one of desolation" (see text, page 245). 



and the Romans, which resulted in the 

 destruction of the former. 



Today this ancient town is ruined and 

 deserted, and a few shepherds living 

 nearby form the only signs of life in the 

 neighborhood. Teos was once an opu- 

 lent city of the Ionian Union, with stately 

 edifices and all the refinements which ac- 

 company luxury and wealth. This is 

 amply borne out by the ravished sepul- 

 chers, prostrate pillars, and inscriptions 

 still extant. It was inclosed within a wall 

 which must have been about four miles 

 in circumference. 



The chief ruins consist of the walls, 

 the temple of Bacchus, and a theater. 

 The temple at one time was one of the 

 most celebrated structures in Ionia. The 

 theater was a spacious one, but only the 



vaults which supported the seats now re- 

 main to give some idea of its former 

 capacity. The galleries have long since 

 disappeared or become covered with a 

 thick layer of earth. 



In the immediate neighborhood of 

 Teos there are many tumuli, and situated 

 near some hot springs are the ruins of a 

 Roman bath. Teos would probably af- 

 ford a good field for excavation, as little 

 has been done in this respect, for a ven- 

 erable olive grove now covers the major 

 part of the ancient site. 



Xot far from Teos is the Turkish town 

 of Srvrihissar, which is partly built from 

 the sculptured marbles of the ancient 

 city. Many inscriptions are seen in the 

 sides of the houses and in the walls which 

 partition off the gardens and lanes. 



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