Page:History of Art in Sardinia, Judæa, Syria and Asia Minor Vol 2.djvu/121

 The City of the Pterians. 105 The character of the monuments unearthed in this region is in perfect accord with our theory. From Nefez-Keui to Tchouroum we Hghted upon no monuments save scattered vestiges of Greek hamlets, one single tomb, with an incipient attempt at decoration, and some rude stelas. But at Boghaz-Keui and Eyuk are vener- able remains, both architectural and sculptural, with symbols of a markedly archaic Oriental nature. If our hypothesis that Pteria was an important political and religious centre be admitted — and monuments are there to prove it — then nothing is more natural than that Croesus should have marched against it, perhaps to punish a rebellious vassal and occupy the fortress situated at the head of an important pass, which commanded the approach to the principal plains of western Asia Minor, and was the meeting-point of two routes : one running from Ephesus to Phocaea, and the other from Smyrna to Sardes. The old name of Pteria, so often associated in ancient times with the struggles between Cyaxares or the Medes on one side, and Alyattes or Lydians on the other, is forgotten ; and the appellation of the modern town is simply boghaz, *' pass," keui, '' village." The fact that this district was thinly populated during the Greek and Roman period may have been due to the invasion of Croesus, who transported the population beyond the Halys; an example not without parallel in ancient history. To name but an instance : Etruria was covered with flourishing cities, which were destroyed by the Romans, and have never been rebuilt. Everything concurs, therefore, in viewing the ruins about Bog- haz-Keui as those of old Pteria ; to which may be added the remains of less important places in the district specified by Herodotus ; whose relative position is indicated in the adjoining map (Fig. 293). These ruins we will divide into three groups, according to the site in which they are found : Boghaz-Keui, Eyub, and Alajah ; which we will take up in their order of succession. § 3. — TAe City of the Pterians. Civil and Military Buildings, Boghaz-Keui is a town of about 150 houses, five hours north- west of lusgat, on the banks of a stream whose course is towards Songourlou, whence it joins the Halys. At the outset, the road