Page:History of Art in Sardinia, Judæa, Syria and Asia Minor Vol 2.djvu/245

 HiTTiTE Monuments in Lydia. 227 § 4. — Hittite Monuments in Lydia, Lydian monuments have often been mentioned in these pages in connection with cognate examples encountered in Phrygia and Lycaonia. It was known that these provinces had long been under Hittite influence, hence remains of their art might be expected to exist here as in the other localities which had formerly owned their sway. Nor were the hopes of the learned world doomed to disappointment. In 1874, Mr. Davis was travelling in Asia Minor, and, in an out-of-the-way corner of Phrygia, he came to a village called " Karaatlu," hard by the lake Salda or "Salt," within a- short distance of the head springs of the Lycus. Whilst resting a few hours at this place, he had pointed out to him some stones, which on examination turned out to be an ancient bas-relief, consisting of two erect figures — very much worn, yet sufficiently clear to enable Mr. Davis to pronounce them ''unlike Greek work, but closely resembling the rock- sculptures at Ghiaour-Kalessi."^ Unfortunately, no drawing was made of the monument. Two other bas-reliefs, due to the Hittites or a people nearly related to them, are reported from a place near Smyrna ; and are supposed to be the so-called figures of Sesostris, specified by Herodotus. One of these pseudo-Sesostris was discovered by Renouard so far back as 1834; and a copy by Texier was presented to the Academic des Inscriptions in 1839.^ It is indifferently called the Nimphi or Karabel warrior; the former appellative is due to a village hard by, the Nimphaeum of the Byzantines; the latter, to an isolated house which gives the name to the important pass leading to the plains watered by the Hermus and the Cayster. It is the figure of a man carved upon a calcareous boulder of rock, which overhangs the ravine, some 50 m. or 60 m. deep (Fig. 360). The mass of greyish white stone forms a bold foreground, and agreeably contrasts with the dark green of the forest-clad range ^ Anotolica^ p. 135. 2 Only to cite circumstantial studies : consult Texier, Description^ torn. ii. pp. 302-308, Plate CXXXII. ; Kiepert, Archce. Zeitung^ torn. i. p. 33 ; De Moustier, Voyage de Constantinople d Epktse with the Tour du Monde^ torn. ix. p. 266. The latter traveller was the first who photographed the monument ; but his figure is deformed, owing to his having placed his camera at the side instead of in front of it. The striking resemblance it bears to the Pierian sculptures was forthwith pointed out by Kiepert, as well as the error of attributing to it an Egyptian origin.