FORTIFIED WALL. 47 



the steep termination of Mount Massicytus, 

 crossing a narrow valley separating the mountain 

 from a low ridge on which are the principal forti- 

 fications, and terminating by the river side. 

 The wall is from seven to eight feet thick, 

 without towers, and rudely built of unhewn stones, 

 which are not in general so large as to be 

 called Cyclopsean ; still, from its rude construc- 

 tion, it must be of a very early date, and ori- 

 ginally formed a good defence wall, although 

 no part is now more than four feet above the 

 ground. In a similar wall, encircling the south- 

 side of the low hill, there is a rude gateway still 

 standing, leading to the enclosed and com- 

 pletely fortified summit. The ground within 

 is rugged and uneven, and contains no other 

 remains than a few artificial terraces. To form 

 a defensible line of demarcation to the north 

 of their city, was evidently the motive of the 

 Xanthians in constructing this wall. No better 

 locality could have been chosen than this 

 spot for such a line of defence ; and it is 

 evident that it was the work of the people of 

 Xanthus, by the only entrance to the fortress 

 being in its south wall, and also from the long- 

 wall being carried on the north face of the 



