Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-11-04
At CYPRUS
REMAINS OF A gsBAT TDITroE AND
FINE kRr0sJscTs
Walls of Earlier Date than Romsn-Ths
Great Temple Of Aphrodits at
Old Paphoa
Hondon TImes.l

1U0 NOIh VI buC W RhHo
Fund, carried on by members OF the
British achool at Athens during the
past winter and spring, has been more
than once referred 10 in these columns.
We are now in O position to present our
readers with a more detailed record,
based upon the reports OF Mr.. Ernest
Gardner, the director. and OF Mr.. X.
Elsey Smith, the architect of the expe-
dItion.
A preliminary tour Of exploration was
mado in December by Mr.. Gardner and
Dr. +. II. II. Guillemar@, who visited
the ancient sites of Cerynia, Lapithus,
Soil, an early Phenician temple on the
Limniti river, Politics Chrysokhon (pro-
badly Arsinoe), and new and old Paphos.
On a later occasion Mr.. Gardner also
visited Amathus and Curium. Varlons
circumstances delayed active operations
until February. when Mr.. NJ. Il. James
conducted the excavation of hill call
ell Leontari, near Nicosia, containing
traces of early houses and walls, deep
cuttings in the rock, a massive fort, and
archaic tombs. NO decisive evidence
was forthcoming as to the date OF the
massive walls OF the fortress, which are
attributed by some competent authorities
10 Roman times, but are more probably
MEDIEVAL. The top Of the bill, however,
was occupied on the north by network
OF primitive walls. mixed with early pot
terry and other objects pointing to re-
mote period, and by an earl y wall Of
fertilization, replaced in later times by
the massive one still eKtant. On the
south of the bill lay tombs of an equally
archaic period, which yielded about 200
vases and other objects iii bronze, lead,
and silver. The rock OF Leontari is
remarkable elevated tableland OF
sandstone formation rising 100 feet
above the surrounding plain and $40
feet above the sea leve! 1t has a steep
cliff ut the top running all round the
hill, which renders access difficult The
hill having a circumference Of near Y a
mile offers too long line Of defence for
the men who could find refuge on it /;
advantage has therefore been taken of a
narrow neck Of land which divides tue
hill into two unequal portions to form
an inner citadel Of the smaller northern
half, 1t Is here that all the traces of
building were found the tombs all lie
beyond the wall on the southern half of
the hill. This arrangement recalls the
general plan OF the fortress OF Iiryns,
but at Leontan the inner citadel itself
has O circumference OF almost the
same length as the whole fortress
OF Tiryns. Relying for the most
part on the natural slopes OF the
hill for defence, the Inhabitants only
raised a wall across the isthmus ut one
exposed point This wall, like all those
in the northern hill, was built of small
unhewn stones, laid without mortar and
carefully fitted. Nowhere, however, is
there more than a single course flush
with the ground. The wall was feet
broad and had large tower 60 feet
square ut its west end, and possibly an
other at tho east. A few feet south Of
this wall are extensive remains OF far
more massive structure, consisting, ike
wise, Of two great towers and curtain
wall. The west tower, which is the
most perfect, consists OF q single
chamber 81 feet by 81 feet, with wall
rs feet thick. The curtain wall is
ten feet thick. The inner lining of the
towers consists of good ashlar work,
while the outer facing of the walls. above
plain base, consists of very fine rusti-
Gated work. e., blocks having a raised
centre panel with q broad chisel drsught
all around. The core is entirely Of
stone, set in hard white mortar, and
laid in courses about two feet high, con-
tanning here and there stones of the full
height of the course, but mostly built Of
smaller stones. To sum up, we seem to
have in Leontari NOunO traces OF a very
early settlement, as evidenced by the
tombs, to which We may refer the slighter
early walls, while the more massive walls
belong to later occupation, probably in
medieval times.
The principal work OF tie season,
however has been the excavation Of the
great Temple of Aphrodite at old Paphos.
As enc of the two or three great centres
Of worship in the ancient world this ate
seemed almost certain to yield important
results. 1t had never been excaysted,
although such al authority as the Central
Archaeological Institute at Berlin had
long held its excavation to be most de-
sirable. Digging was began upon Feb
ruary Sd and carried on without inter
mission until May 5th. The actual site
OF the temple having been ascertained
by the cutting of deep trenches in
various directions, the whole OF
the accumulated earth vas gradually
removed, so that not only was the plan
left clearly visible, but the inscriptions
and other antiquities scittered about
could not fsil 10 be discovered. First,
as to the temple itself. It is known to
have been Of great antiquity and OF
PhGnician origin, and 1t MAS apparently
but little altered by tho Greeks when
they became the ruling power in
the island, for nowhere on tho
site were found traces q any building
at all resembling the usual Greek tenn
pie. In Roman times it was twice dam
aged by earthquake-in the early part OF
the first century and toward the close Of
the second. Each tine it was re-
stored with great magnifcence, but
although the Romans made impor-
tant alterations and additions they
do not seem to have wished to change
the main character OF the building, or
even to any great extent tie arrangement
OF the various parts. Coins exist OF
Roman times giving n view of this tenn
pie, and showing a tall central chamber
or celia, with lower chambers or por-
ticos on either side and Q court in front
enclosed by wall with gates. A coin of
Byblos, a town on the PlHnician coast,
shows a temple OF very similar struc-
ture, with a large court surrounded by
wall containing the sacred cone and
entered on one side through
lofty portlco. We have q tole-
rabiy full subscription Of one build
ing-Solomon's temple at Jerusa-
lem-vhich may practically be consider
ed Phenician temple, though no donbt
modified by the circumstances of its con-
struction. In the main there is q strong
correspondence between the temple at
Paphos and the account Of Solomon's
temple given in the Second Book OF
Kings. In both we get series of large
outer courts; in both lofty central
chamber OF small dimensions, hanked by
lo..o. orac Evarx ~ 81 kba eta vwb;oI,