128 



ASIA MINOR. 



Descending from the Acropolis we came to a small but beautifully 

 constructed edifice, having an arched or rather vaulted dome ; the 

 walls and roof are composed of huge blocks of granite fitted together 

 without cement. This building had been converted into a vapour-bath 

 by the Turks ; but appeared neglected. A double wall is built against 

 the side of the Acropolis with a space between, probably to keep the 

 buildings free from the moisture which filters through the crevices. 

 At a short distance towards the sea are ruins of a magnificent gate- 

 way to the city, and part of a grand flight of steps. Blocks of an 

 architrave with inscriptions in large Greek characters lie near this spot. 

 This architrave seems to have belonged to the portico or Propylsea ; 

 the letters are four inches in length. 



. . SKAI1EPETSTOTAIOST. . . 

 OTOMON&OTKAirrM 

 ©EOTKAI^APO^OAEAT . . # 



This portico has been of the Doric order, as is evident by the 

 massive triglyphs which still remain. I also found another inscrip- 

 tion in smaller characters. 



EKTHSnP020AOTTi2NArPi2NAnEAinENEl2Eni2KET 



HNTHSnOAE122KAEOSTPATOSTl6SnOAEI2^4>T^EIAE 



AIIEAAIK12NT02 



On the declivity of the hill, commanding a beautiful prospect of 

 the gulf and island of Lesbos, stands an ancient Greek theatre, of 

 which the remains are very considerable. The ranges of seats for 

 the spectators remain almost perfect ; they are divided into three dis- 

 tinct stories, and are conveniently hollowed out, for allowing the 

 persons sitting to draw their feet a little back*, so as not to incom- 



* This form of the seats is not uncommon, and among other instances we may refer to 

 the theatre at Iero in Epidauria. See Dcs Mouceaux. We find them sometimes cut out 

 of the solid rock, as at Argos; but in all the ancient theatres the seats must have been 

 covered with wood ; nfwTov l-vXov, primum lignum, was an expression used by the Greeks to 

 signify the first seat. Pollux, iv. 121. The " wide walk," mentioned by Dr. Hunt, is 

 the liutypa, or praecinctio, which was in general equal in breadth to two steps. 



