Page:History of Art in Phrygia, Lydia, Caria and Lycia.djvu/290

 2/4 HISTORY OF ART IN ANTIQUITY. valley of the Cayster, near a rocky hillock in which was excavated a primitive sanctuary ; apparently replaced under the Roman dominion by an Ionic temple, the remains of which strew the ground. Some hundred and twenty yards from these ruins, in a westward direction, rises a. hill whose top was transformed into a tumulus, which rules the valley. The result was obtained at little expenditure of time and labour; all that was needed was to build a retaining wall at the foot of the hill, which effectually prevented the slipping of loose soil over the talus and preserved the integrity of the mound. The masonry of this wall is more regular than that of the tombs around Sardes. It is made up of alternating courses of varying height, which bring to mind what is called Hellenic stone-work. The blocks, set out without mortar, are "bossed" and show careful execution. An in- genious contrivance was resorted to in order to guard against the sliding of stones consequent upon a lateral thrust (Fig. 180). At twenty-five centimetres from the external border of the unit, FIG. 1 80. Tumulus at Beltvi. Notch in rock. Weber, Plate I. Fig. 2. FIG. 181. General view of tumulus. Weber, Plate I. Fig. 2. was cut a groove or notch eleven centimetres deep, which exactly fitted a seam in relief cut in the upper stone ; so that it was able to oppose the utmost resistance to pressure acting from the apex of the tumulus towards the circumference. The best view of the whole tumulus and of the substructure is obtained from the south side (Fig. 181), where stood the entrance (Fig. 182, o). This, to 8vo, 1 6 pages and two plates. The village is marked in Kiepert's map under the slightly changed name cf Beledi.