the sun when it rose over Mount Varoma, and the
shadow of a monolith erected on the wall at K
would fall on it at the same time, thus marking with
great accuracy the occurrence of the solstice. Monoliths
had been erected at intervals along the decorated
part, and only on this part, of the wall, and these
may have served to indicate other periods of the year
in a similar way.
Near the top of the great tower, which at present
stands thirty-two feet high, there is a dentelle pattern,,
which may be described as a chevron pattern laid
on its side, and which resembles a common Egyptian
pattern. This extends partly round the tower, but
it is impossible to determine its aspect with accuracy
as so much of it has fallen away. It seems, however,
to have faced the setting sun at the winter solstice.
At the temple at the east end of the fortress on
the hill similar means are provided for observing the
summer solstice. Only a small part of the decorated
wall remains, the middle part, which was of great
height, having fallen, so that we do not know how
far the decoration may have extended towards the
south. On the other side it terminates at the doorway,
which is placed close to the high cliff which
forms the northern side of the temple. We discovered
the altar, with several phalli and many little terracotta
images of the solar disc lying near it, and some
among the stones of the altar. This altar is not at
the centre of the arc, but is placed ten feet nearer
the rising sun at the solstice, and its position seems
to be due to the position of the break in the cliff,
which is true north of the altar, so that the meridian
can be observed through this passage from the altar
in its actual position, and it could not have been
observed from the altar were it placed at the centre
of the arc. It was impossible to describe the arc
with the altar as its centre owing to the position of
some rocks which would have interfered with the
building of the wall. At the summer solstice the sun
rises here on a level horizon and bears East 25° South,
and a line drawn from the altar in this direction passes
through the pattern, and continued for ten feet in the
opposite direction it would fall on the centre of the arc.
The great curved wall at the western end of the
fortress, which is surmounted by little round towers
and erect monoliths, faces the setting sun at the
winter solstice. If we suppose the altar was placed
here, we have on an eminence marked A, fifty feet
true north of the altar, a tall monolith which would
enable the meridian transits of northern stars to be
observed from the altar, and a fine drawn from
this altar towards the setting sun at the winter solstice
would seem to have passed through the middle
of the line of towers and monoliths. This <gDreat
wall is not so well built as the walls at the eastern
temple, and it seems probable that it is a restoration
of an old wall which was originally parallel to this,
and whose foundations we discovered as already
mentioned. Possibly on the original wall the round
towers and monoliths were aligned between the altar
and the setting sun at certain definite periods of the.
year. At present they do not seem to mark any