Page:History of Art in Sardinia, Judæa, Syria and Asia Minor Vol 2.djvu/235

 HiTTiTE Monuments in Lycaonia. 217 summer of 1886, Mr. Ramsay returned to Eflatoun-Bounar, in order to examine at greater leisure the stone document afresh. In his opinion, the PoHsh explorer has not faithfully rendered what is written on the stones. He confesses, however, to the work being so worn and stained in many places of the fagade — nearly all that now remains — that it is almost impossible to decipher what was really carved upon it ; and we know that in doubtful cases, photography should be supplemented by '' touch." Whilst we fully admit that M. Sokolowski's drawings may require emendation, we give them the preference as on the whole the more complete of the two sets. The district in which these ruins occur is a dreary albeit undulating plain. The monument now only consists of two wall sections, built of gigantic blocks of trachyte, cut and bevelled at the edges with great nicety ; the one forms an linpierced facade, whose base is washed by the flood ; and the little that remains of the other is at right angles with the first (Fig. 357). This wall would be meaningless, unless we assume that it originally served to enclose the space behind the fa9ade, where everything points to a rectangular chamber having formerly stood there. It was entered by a doorway let into the back wall. At this point a number of ancient blocks lie about the ground, as will be seen in our sketch ; and Mr. Ramsay noticed one which was built in the dyke. The construction of the latter was in all probability effected with stones taken from the monument ; which from this and other causes has been reduced to one-third of its original size. The rectangular chamber which interposed between the twin walls was roofed over. Among the stones strewing the ground is one which formed part of a window-case. An animal, probably a lion, was carved upon its lower portion ; from which we may infer, says Mr. Ramsay, that a frieze composed of animals ran along the whole length of the wall above these openings, with outlook towards the hill. Part of this decoration might be recovered, were search made among the blocks accumulated here or built in the dam. For the present, we must be content to study the best-preserved side, which faces the lake or south. The height is 3 m. 85 c. by 6 m. S^ c. in length.* The inner facing has still fourteen blocks turned to ^ These are Mr. Ramsay's measurements, and they practically agree with Hamil- ton's. The seven metres specified by M. Sokolowski, are evidently due to some confusion in his notes.