Page:Travels & discoveries in the Levant (1865) Vol. 1.djvu/250

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200
TRAVELS AND DISCOVERIES

Within this outer enclosure is an inner line of wall 24 feet 2 inches on the W. side: the foundations appear to be a square within the outer square.

From Monolithos we went to Siana, along the foot of Mount Akramytis, which runs towards the sea in a S.W. direction, and of which the height, according to the Admiralty chart, is 2,706 feet. At Siana I found another castle of the Knights, and evident remains of an Hellenic city.

About ten minutes to the N.W. of the village, on the side of a hill, was a rectangular basement, composed of large marble blocks of Hellenic masonry. The longest side, running N. and S., measured 10 feet 10 inches. One of the blocks was 7 feet 8 inches by 2 feet 8 inches by 1 foot 6 niches. Near this spot I observed a piece of Hellenic wall. Nearer the village was a stone seat cut in the rock, and by the side of it two steps, originally part of the same rock, but separated from it by a chasm. On the other side of the seat is a raised platform, with a deep groove at the side. The chasm between the seat and steps seemed caused by an earthquake. The platform reminded me of the bema in the Athenian Pnyx.

On this site are remains of rock tombs which seem to have been disturbed by an earthquake. A few yards higher up the hill was a large block of stone, 5 feet 7 inches by 3 feet 4 inches. In the centre of the block was a socket, 1 foot 10 inches by 1 foot 3 inches square.

About twenty minutes to the E. of the village, on the side of the hill, exactly facing the castle, I found traces