RUINS OF TELMESSUS. 293 
it. Here the bay winds round a promontory, chap, 
and inclines towards the south, presenting a i.. ,- j 
beautiful harbour sheltered on every side by 
a mountainous coast-. We landed upon the 
modern pier; and, having paid our respects to 
the Agha in the usual form, by taking a cup of 
his coffee, proceeded to the Ruins. They lie 
towards the east and west of the present town, 
or, in truth, all around it ; for when the modern 
town was built, it arose from the ruins of the 
antient city. The first and principal Ruin 
appears from the sea, before landing, to the 
west of the town. It is that of an immense 
Theatre, whose enormous portals are yet standing : Theatre. 
it seems to be one of the grandest and most 
perfect specimens which the Antients have left 
of this kind of building. The situation selected 
for it, according to a custom observed through- 
out Greece, is the side of a mountain sloping to 
the sea. Thus, by the plans of Grecian archi- 
tects, the vast operations of Nature were 
rendered subservient to works of art ; for the 
mountains, on w^iich they built their theatres, 
possessed naturally a theatrical form; and, 
towering behind them, exhibited a continuation 
of the immense Coiion which contained the seats 
for the spectators ; giving a prodigious dignity 
(2) See a small Chart made upon the spot by the author, as a, 
Vignette to this Chapter. 
