GREAT RUINS. 233 



Suddenly, after crossing a low wall, we emerged 

 from the thicket, and entered an open and 

 flat area between the two great rocks, and 

 walled in by inaccessible precipices. On it 

 ruins were profusely scattered; numerous built 

 tombs and sarcophagi, fallen buildings of large 

 size, and a temple, the ornamented doorway 

 of which still stood, fronted by a goodly flight 

 of steps. Fluted columns of large dimensions 

 lay strewed in fragments on the ground. Un- 

 willing to delay until we had ascertained 

 the full extent of the city, after a hasty 

 glance, we proceeded to the upper end of the 

 platform. Here the valley became more con- 

 tracted, and a strong and perfect wall was 

 thrown across it. Within this, ruins of nobler 

 style and more perfect preservation appeared, — 

 especially a palatial building of great extent, 

 having numerous doors and windows, and almost 

 perfect to the roof. Like the others, it was 

 constructed of rectangular blocks of limestone, 

 without intervening cement ; before us, on what 

 appeared to be the mountain-top, a third wall 

 appeared, to which we ascended, expecting to 

 tind the acropolis. Hitherto we had met with 

 no mention of the city in any of the inscriptions ; 



