MERGE TO GYRENE. 
433 
the godde.ss, her attachment to (or rather her profession of) per- 
petual cehbacy^. 
It was between the remains of the temple of Diana and the foun- 
tain that we discovered the beautiful bas-relief of white marble 
which we have already mentioned above; and near it we found the 
torso of a male figure the size of life (also of white marble) executed 
in the best style of Grecian sculpture. 
A little beyond this temple the level tract of ground stretching out 
from the base of the cliff from which the fountain issues is terminated 
by a strongly-built wall, the top of which is even with the surface ; it 
has been built for the purpose of keeping uj) the soil, which would 
otherwise, from the abrupt descent of the ground, be washed down by 
the winter rains and the buildings upon it exposed to be undermined. 
This wall, which is a very conspicuous object from below, must have 
formed in its perfect state an admirable defence, as it would have 
effectually precluded the possibility of any approach to the place 
from the country beneath. Since the waters of the fountain have 
been left to their natural course the stream pours itself over the top 
of the wall in a pretty, romantic-looking cascade; the effect of which 
is heightened by the trees growing up against the barrier, amongst 
whose branches the water dashes in its passage to the plains below. 
A few paces beyond the first wall the ground again descends abruptly 
and is kept up by a similar structure ; after which it continues to do 
* The closely-drawn girdle of the ladies of antiquity, like the snood of the Scottish 
maidens, was symbolical of an unmarried state; and to loosen it was part of the nuptial 
ceremony. 
