170 
STATUE NEAR THE RIVER SHIRENE. 
nearly precipitous cliff; forming a very intricate and dangerous 
ascent towards its summit, but finishing abruptly on an extensive 
ledge or platform ; which, it is probable, in former ages, was the 
site of some Mithratic altar, or temple. 
Pere Emanuel de St. Albert, and the Abbe Beauchamp, were 
the first Europeans, I believe, who gave the world any details of 
the antiquities on this spot; and one of these travellers mentions, 
that he saw a statue standing erect in the river, which was nearly 
covered from observation by the fullness of the rapid stream, but 
that the natives told him it was the effigy of the beautiful Shirene, 
who had given her name to the fountain. I found a statue, in all 
likelihood the same, though not in the wave but leaning against 
the bank of the river ; yet, on viewing it, I saw that it certainly 
required to be veiled as he describes, before the liveliest imagin¬ 
ation could mistake it for the image of a woman, and the work 
of an artist enamoured of his subject. It is even rudely hewn, 
and so colossally proportioned, that no doubt can remain, when 
seen thus wholly exposed, that it was intended to be viewed from 
a great distance, and that its original situation must have been 
some neighbouring height, whence it probably fell into the 
stream where the Abbe saw it. One hand is placed on the 
breast, the other rests on something resembling a sword sus¬ 
pended in front of the body. The figure is broken off from the 
knees downwards, but from the waist to that point hang the 
remains of drapery. During my rambles near the spot, I ob¬ 
served a place, where I think it is likely the statue may have 
originally stood; namely, a levelled ledge of rock immediately 
over the two great arches before mentioned, and along which a 
range of sculptured feet, broken off at the ankles, are yet perfectly 
distinguishable. The statues that belonged to these extremities, 
