Character of Country occupied by the Hittites 43 peculiar to Hamath and Jerabis. These lions, three in number, stood formerly in the outer wall, frequently damaged in the wars of Byzantium and the Caliphs. Its last restoration took place in the Middle Ages, when the Arab builder used two of these stout archaic figures to ornament the top of the doorway (Fig. 268).^ Fig. 268.— l.ion built in the wall of the Citadel of Merash. Sculptures akin to the Merash lions, to those of the Euphrates and the Orontes valleys, have likewise been reported from Albistan, on the south of the plain called Palanga Ova, north of the Jihoun Pass.^
- I am indebted to Professor Sayce for the last and many of the woodcuts con-
tained in this chapter— reproduced from photographs taken by Dr. Gwyther, who saw the original in place in 1885.
- Our information is based upon a letter of Mr. J. H. Haynes, which he addressed
to us from Aintab, dated February 8, 1886, together with photographs of the two Albistan lions taken the year before. Their mutilated state however renders them valueless for the purpose of our publication.
