Page:History of Art in Sardinia, Judæa, Syria and Asia Minor Vol 2.djvu/116

 loo A History of Art in Sardinia and Jud^a. inscriptions engraved on their pieces yielded documents of inestim- able historical value. Then, too, with their innate love of the beautiful, they contrived to introduce in the exiguous field, side by side with the city mark, bas-reliefs which in nobleness of style and composition may be ranked as masterpieces. Asia Minor has been likened to an open palm, stretched out to Hellas through its mountains, its promontories, and rocky islands projected far out into the ^gean to meet the sister hand of Europe. A glance at the map will show the correlation of the twin penin- sulas. How vividly this is brought home, let any one say who has performed the voyage from Piraeus or Syra, to Metelin or Smyrna in a Greek barque, not much changed since the days of the travelled and experienced Odysseus. As of yore the Etesian winds fill the sail, and their regularity renders them as free from danger as they are serviceable to the mariner. Little need is there of knowledge to steer his vessel from Europe to Asia, and bring her safely back again into harbour ; for he knows that before foul weather he can run her into a secure anchorage. When the cool- ing breeze suddenly falls, he takes up the oar for a while until the vessel Is caught again by the land wind. He may be becalmed, he may have to go about to catch the slightest breath, he may be hours, nay days, before he rounds the cape. Needless to say that this Is not the quickest mode of getting from one place to another ; but there is no doubt as to its being the pleasantest. The only certainty is when he weighs anchor, but the end of the journey who shall declare ? When he runs her ashore to procure water or victuals, he may reckon upon as comfortable a bed as man ever had on the soft warm sand of the beach, whilst lying on his back he watches the stars overhead, until refresh- ing sleep robs him of consciousness. In this way days grow into weeks, although it seems but yesterday that the friendly coast of Hellas disappeared in the blue distance ; when he sighted other lands and other horizons, the great groups of the Cyclades, and the Sporades, the promontories of Lesbos, Chios, and Samos, those outposts of the Aslanic continent ; finally in the early light of an Eastern sky, the complex coast of Ionia rises before him. Yet air, sea, and land, the very trees and flowers with which he is familiar, are here to welcome him ; and but for the map he would not know that he has entered into a new world. Not once during his passage has he felt the peculiar awe which is apt to steal over