260 



HISTORY OF CIBYRA. 



these monuments are many short, simple, round, 

 altar- shaped pillars. At the entrance to this 

 avenue of tombs was a massive triumphal arch 

 of Doric architecture, now in ruins. Some por- 

 tions of an inscription were seen on the frag- 

 ments, but the greater part la)' buried and in- 

 accessible under the larger blocks. Near the 

 stadium are several large buildings, the purposes 

 of which it would require better antiquaries than 

 we are to determine. Iron ores are plentiful 

 around the Cibyratic plain, and Strabo states 

 that the Cibyratse excelled in engraving on 

 iron. Cibyra was the Birmingham of Asia 

 Minor. In lower Lycia, where wood abounds, 

 stone is carved in imitation of wood-work. 

 Many fragments in Cibyra are carved in imita- 

 tion of iron-work. All the remains here appear 

 to be contemporary with Roman rule in Asia.* 



* The following account of ancient Cibyra is extracted 

 from Dr. Cramer's excellent work on Asia Minor, vol. ii. p. 

 269. " Cibyra seems to have been originally a small town of 

 Cabalis, but on the accession of the Pisidian colony, the site 

 was changed, and the town considerably enlarged ; the whole 

 circuit, as we learn from Strabo, being not less than one hun- 

 dred stadia. Its prosperity was chiefly owing to the excellence 

 of its laws, though the government was that of an absolute 

 monarchy. Under this government were included the three 

 old Cabalian towns of Bubon, Balbura, and Oenoanda, and 



