MERGE TO GYRENE. 
427 
the easy and graceful action of the figure. As the tablet has lain 
for ages with its face towards the ground, the polish still remains 
very conspicuously upon its surface ; and contributes to give an 
additional air of finish to this tasteful and interesting performance. 
The group we first mentioned is executed in sandstone ; and it 
will be seen that the style of it, although characterised by archaism, 
is by no means deficient either in sentiment or taste, or distinguished 
by an ignorance of the rules of art. The faces in both of these 
tablets have been mutilated, and other parts of the compositions, as 
will be seen by the plates, are wanting. 
In front of the fountain two porticoes appear to have been 
erected, if we judge from the channels which are cut in the surface 
of the rock, into which the pediments seem to have been inserted ; 
and on a part of the cliff, at right angles with the face of the rock, is 
an inscription in Doric Greek recording the name of a priest who 
built one of the porticoes in question *. 
It is probable that the separation of a part of the cliff* from the 
rest, in consequence of the foundation having given way, was the 
cause of the destruction of the portico of Dionysius, (the name which 
is mentioned in the inscription ;) no other indications of which now 
remain except the marks we have alluded to in the surface of the 
rock. The front of the fountain is however much encumbered with 
soil, washed down by the winter rains from above ; and parts of the 
* LirAIONYZIOZZnXA 
lEPEITEYflNTANKPANAN 
EPEZKEYAZE 
3 I 2 
