Druckschrift 
2 (1803)
Seite
63
Einzelbild herunterladen
 

OF THE CRIMEAN PENINSULA.

63

only a few of the lowermoft large fquare ftones in their places.In the inner corner formed by the northern and eaftern walls,we met with another edifice thirteen arfhines fquare, thelower ftones of which, on the two fides facing the walls, areftill vifible; but of the two others we could trace only thefoundation. On the fide due North, broad ftones are internallyplaced along the wall, in the form of fteps. No other ruinsare evident in the inner fpace; and feveral large mafles of theimpending rocks have lately been precipitated into the fmallerabyfs. It is, however, difncult to conjecture the defign of thisbuilding; which, from the want of water, appears to havebeen unfit for a fortified place. The name of Sacred Promon-tory, which it ftill retains, its contiguity to that cape, and itsdiftance from the walls furrounding the city of Cherfonefus,all tend to Warrant the prefumption, that this fpot may havebeen the Fanum Dcemonis Virginis ; and that Aya-Burun wasthe Promontorium Parthenium mentioned by Strabo*; thoughothers have rather fuppcfed its fituation to have been near therugged corner denominated St. George's Rock, in a moreweftern direction than the prefent monaftery. There is, how-ever, no veftige of buildings, nor are any traces of human work-manfhip difcoverable, on furveying the whole extent betweenthis monaftery and the corner, in front of which, the blackifhcliff, compofed of a brown fchiftus, proje&s into thefea; andfuch is alfo the cafe farther along the coaft. But, in followingthe high fliore that now extends to the North-weft, a fteep and

* In ea urbe (Cherrone/o) eß templum damonis virginis, a qua nomen habet etiam Promon-torium, quod ante urbem eß ad C. ßadia, et Parthenium dicitur, fanum ejus genii habens acßmulacrum. —Strabo, /. c.

pointed