C H A P . LVIII.
From Mylafa to Iafus —- Fo Mendelet — A temple — An antient
town— O f Labranda and the temple of 'Jupiter — Infcriptions
— Fhe mountain — Re-enter Ionia.
T H E month of O(Sober was now almoft at an end. The
nights, to which our men were often expofed, without any
cover, grew cold j and our Janizary was ill. We found it ne-
celfary to haften to our winter quarters. We engaged the Swifs,
whom we met at Mylafa on our return to the khan, in our fer-
■ vice j pleafed with his adbivity and intrepidity ; and purchafed a
horfe to carry him. We pafied the firft night, after leaving
Mylafa, in the fepulchre at Iafus.
On the way from Iafus to Mendelet, which is diftant four
hours, and three from Mylafa, we left the level green, with the
booths of the Turcomans mentioned before, on our right hand;
and riding northward, through Rubble of Turkey wheat, came
in an hour to a beautiful and extenfive plain covered with vines,
olive and fig-trees, and flocks and herds feeding j and flatted by
mountains with villages. We crofied it by a winding road, with
the country-houfe of the aga of Mylafa on our right hand j and
pafling a village called Iakli, unexpectedly difcovered the folemn
ruin of a temple; but, as it was dufk, we continued our journey
to Mendelet, which was an hour farther on. The merchants,
our late companions, had given us a letter to fome Armenians,
who kindly admitted us to partake in their apartment
ih the khan.
i.. W e returned in the morning to the ruin. The temple was
of the Corinthian order, fixteen columns, with part of their entablature
*97
tablature Handing ; the cell and roof demolilhed. It is in a nook
or recefsj the front, which is toward the eaft, clofe by the
mountain-foot j the back and one fide overlooking the plain. The
ftile of the architefture is noble, and made us regret, that fome
members, and, in particular, the angle of the cornice, were wanting.
Its marbles have been melted away, as it were piece-meal,
in the furnaces for making lime, which are ftill in ufe, clofe by
the ruin.
A town has ranged with the temple on the north. The walk
beginning near it, makes a circuit on the hill, and defcends on
the fide toward Mendelet. The thickets, which have overrun
the file, are almoft impenetrable, and prevented my purfuing it
to the top, but the lower portion may eafily be traced. It had
fquare towers at intervals, and was of a fimilar conftruction with
the wall at Ephefus. Within it, is a theatre cut in the rock, with,
fome feats remaining. In the vineyards beneath are broken columns
and marble fragments; and in one, behind the temple,,
two mafiy farcophagi carved with feftoons and heads; the lids
on, and a hole made by force in their fides. They are raifed on
a pediment, and, as you approach, appear like two piers of a
gate-way. Beyond the temple are alfo fome ruins of fepulchres.
I was much difappointed in finding no infcriptions to inform us
of the name of this deferted place 5 which from its pofition on a
mountain by the way-fide, and its diftance from Mylafa, I am.
inclined to believe was Labranda.
L abranda, according to Strabo, was a village feated on a.
mountain in the road from Alabanda to Mylafa. The temple
was antient, and the image of wood. This was filled The M ilitary
Jupiter, and was worfhipped by the people all around. T S
way was paved near fixty eight ftadia ’ or eight miles and a hall,
i « lian .l.xii. c. 3o. makes the diftance of the temple .70 ftadia 01-eight m lesantf
three quar ters; and relates that in-it was a clear fountain with tame filh, which wore •
golden necklaces and ear-rings.
aa