TELMESSUS. 



3 



tenements of which are sufficiently picturesque 

 when not seen too closely, is backed by noble 

 hills, in places thickly wooded, the flanks of 

 Mount Cragus. Their precipices, in the imme- 

 diate neighbourhood of Makri, are honeycombed 

 with tombs hewn in the rock and richly sculp- 

 tured, some in imitation of Ionic temples, others 

 to represent edifices of ornamental wood-work. 

 Inscriptions, some Greek, others in the mys- 

 terious character which has been designated 

 Lycian, are carved on many of them, adding 

 greatly to their interest. A huge and towering 

 crest of rock bears on its summit a mixed mass 

 of ancient and middle-age architecture, the re- 

 mains of the Acropolis of Telmessus, which must 

 have been a place of some importance, even at 

 a comparatively late period. Around, and at 

 its base, are scattered numerous inscribed sarco- 

 phagi, of various forms and massy proportions. 

 At the head of the land-locked bay, in a recess 

 in the hill side, are the very perfect remains of 

 the theatre, with its gigantic portals still stand- 

 ing ; and, close by, are the arched vaults, con- 

 jectured by Dr. Clarke to be places of divina- 

 tion, for which this city of soothsayers was once 

 famous, but which have the aspect of having 



B 2 



