AND THE PASSAGE OF THE EURIPUS. 



543 



probable that such was the construction which they adopted. It is hardly 

 necessary to add that the two opposite arches would form a tunnel. 



The term Syrinx, however, could not with propriety have been ap- 

 plied to a passage which was not truly cylindrical, i. e. where the 

 length of the passage was not greater than its diameter ; and we have 

 no other way of getting over this difficulty than by supposing that a 

 more than usual breadth was given to the two towers in this direction, 

 which is by no means inconsistent with the purpose for which they 

 were built.* 



After all, however, that can be said upon this subject, I confess that 

 it amounts to no more than a plausible hypothesis, which every critic 

 is at liberty to adopt or reject, although the form of the present bridge 

 over the Euripus tends rather to confirm it. 



This bridge is evidently built on the x*>, uct °f Diodorus, and al- 

 though of a barbarous style of construction, suggests an idea of its 

 ancient plan. The western end, or that which is contiguous to 

 Boeotia, has five small ill-shaped arches, which give a passage to the 

 shallow part of the current. The navigable passage is at the eastern end, 

 and this is flanked as well as fortified by two opposite square towers, 

 between which there is a communication by means of a draw-bridge. 



The tower on the eastern side of this canal projects far beyond the 

 line of the city wall; but as this wall is washed by the current, and the 

 ground within it is very low, it is not improbable that the west side 

 of the city covers the eastern segment of the x&fia, which will account 

 for the canal or navigable passage being now no longer in the middle 

 of the Euripus f, although I am inclined to think that it must always 

 have been nearer to the walls of Chalcis than to the shore of Bceotia, 

 for the purpose of a better system of defence. 



I shall conclude with observing that the tower supporting the 

 western half of the draw-bridge is connected with a small fort, which 

 extends in length far to the southward of the line described by the 

 two bridges. J 



* See the engraved plan which follows. f Vide note * in p. 539. 



% I find the history of this fort in the following passage of the Latin version of 

 Nicetas : " Postremo Eubcea quoque omissa defensione, supphces ad Marchionem ma- 



