DISTRICT OF THOAS. 
71 
no hundred yards; and these are nearly the dimensions of the 
base of this tumulus, which has been called the tomb of Hector.* * * § • 
That this name has been inconsiderately given, will be evident 
from the statement of a single fact; namely, that it stands on 
the outside of the remains, insignificant as they are, of the wall 
once surrounding the bill on which it is placed ; although that 
wall has been described as the ancient inclosure of the supposed 
citadel. The evidence of one is therefore nearly sufficient to 
contradict the other; for, although Homer is not explicit as to 
the situation of Hector’s tomb, there is every other reason to 
suppose it was erected within the walls of the city. But there 
are other tumuli upon these heights, equally entitled, by their 
size and situation, to the distinction, so hastily bestowed upon 
this. It will therefore be curious to ascertain the cause of its 
present appellation, and show how very little foundation it 
had in reality. This tumulus has been formed entirely of 
loose stones,| and the coincidence of such a circumstance with 
Homer’s description of the tomb of Hector, was deemed a suffi¬ 
cient ground of discovery as to the identity of the tomb itself.J; 
A little further attention, however, to these monuments, would 
have proved that they were all constructed after the same 
manner ; the stones of the other tumuli being only concealed 
from observation by a slight covering of soil. From this spot 
the whole Isle of Tenedos is in view, and a most magnificent 
prospect of the qourse of the Scamander to the sea, with all 
Troas, and every interesting object it contains; This considera¬ 
tion, o together with the remarkable character of the hill itself, 
surrounded by precipices above the riyer.ll and, still more, the 
erroneous opinions entertained of the springs at Bonarbashy, 
superseded every objection urged concerning its distance from 
the coast, and the utter impossibility of reconciling such a 
position of the city with the account given by Homer of the 
*It is ninety-three yards in circumference. 
f Here we found a new species of orchis , which we have called orchis heroica. 
Orchis labdlo emarginato y obcordato latissimo : petalis suberectis vvato oblongis ; brae*- 
ids germine longioribus: cornu adscendente subulnio genuine breviofe : J'olois carinatis 
subensifo-'mibus: bulbis ovatis. , By the side of it grew ornithogalum hdeum, or yellow 
star of Bethlehem ; and hyacinihus racemosus, the grape hyacinth. On other parts of 
these heights we found, moreover, a new species of cardamine^ which has received 
the name of cardamine tenella. The following is the description of it; Cardaminefo - 
His simplicibus, ternatis, pinnatisque ciliatis pilosis: foliolis basi inaqualibus snbreni - 
formibus : siliqvis linearibus longis* Other plants, interesting only in their locality* 
were, anemone apennina , teucrium polium , anemone hortensis , and sedum cepcea. 
| Iliad Q. See also Chevalier's Descriptiort , &c. p. 125. 
§ “ Est in conspectu Tenedos.”.- 
ij Whence the Trojans were invited to cast down the Grecian horse. 
