PLAIN OF TROT. A : 'J 
that time covered with snow, ascertain, from (lie appearance of 
the plain, and the objects connected with it, whether its summit 
might he deemed the Gargarus of Homer ; described as being 
upon the left of the army of Xerxes, during its march from 
Antandrus to Abydus.^ But as the Thymbrius, a river still 
retaining its ancient name, in the appellation Thymbreck , and 
which here disembogues itself near the embouchure of the 
Mender , has been confounded by Dr. Chandler with the 
Simois of Homer, we determined first upon an excursion 
along its banks, to the ruins situated at a place now called 
Halil Elly , and to Thymbreck Keuy, or the village of Thy nr- 
bra. ' 
We crossed the Mender by a wooden bridge, immediately 
after leaving Konm-kale ; and ascertained its breadth, in that 
part, to equal one hundred and thirty yards. We then enter 
ed an immense plain, in w hich some Turks were engaged hunt 
iog wild boars. Peasants were also employed in ploughing a deep 
and rich soil of vegetable earth. Proceeding toward the east, 
and round the bay distinctly pointed out by Strabo,f as the 
harbour in which the Grecian fleet w as stationed, we arrived 
at the sepulchre of Ajax, upon the ancient Rhbeieau promon¬ 
tory.. Concerning this tumulus, there is every reason to be 
lieve our information correct. If we had only the text of Stra¬ 
bo for our guidance, there w r ould be little ground for incredu¬ 
lity ; and, by the evidence afforded in a view of the monument 
itself, we have the best comment upon his accuracy. It is 
one of the most interesting objects to which the attention of the 
literary traveller cao possibly be directed. Instead of the 
simple Stele, usually employed to decorate the summit of the 
most ancient sepulchral mounds, all writers, w ho have men¬ 
tioned the tomb of Ajax, relate, that it was surmounted by a 
shrine, in which the statue of the hero was preserved.J Re¬ 
ligious regard for this hallowed spot continued through so ma¬ 
ny ages, that even to the time in which Christianity decreed 
the destruction of the Pagan idols, the sanctity of the Aiam- 
teum w T as maintained and venerated. § Such importance was 
annexed to the inviolability of the monument, that after Anto~ 
* Herodot. lib. tfii. 
; t Strab. Geogr. lib. xvii. p. 859. Ed. Ox. 
i t Diodorus Siculus, describing the visit paid by Alexander the Great to the Tomb 
of Achilles, says be anointed the Stele with perfumes, and ran naked round it with his 
companions. At the Tomb of Ajax he performed rites and made offerings; but nu> 
)mention occurs of the Stele. Diodor. Sic. lib. xv'ri. 
5 See the proofs adduced, in regular series* by Chandler, in his History of llvum* 
load. 1802. J ' 
F 
