T R A V E L S in A S I A M I N O R .
T h e extreme fandtity of the temple infpired univerfal awe
and reverence. It was for many ages a repofitory of foreign and
domeftic treafures. There property, whether public or private,
was fecure amid all revolutions. The civility of Xerxes was an
example to fubfequent conquerors, and the impiety of faerilege
was not extended to the Ephefian goddefs. But Nero was lefs
polite. He removed many coflly offerings and images,, and an.
immenfe quantity of filver and gold. It was again plundered by
Goths from beyond the Danube, in the time of Gallienus ' ; a.
party under Rafpa eroding the Hellefpont, and ravaging the;
country, until compelled to retreat, when they carried off a
prodigious booty.
T he deftrudion of fo illuftrious an edifice deferved to have
been carefully recorded by contemporary hiftorians. We may
conjecture it followed the triumph of chriftianity. The Ephefian
reformers, when authorized by the imperial edicts, rejoiced,
in the opportunity of infulting Diana; and deemed it piety to
demolifh the very ruin of her habitation. Hence, perhaps,,
while the columns of the Corinthian temple have owed their
prefervation to their bulk, thofe of this fabric, with the vaft
architraves and all the maffive materials, have perilhed and are
confumed. Though its ftones were far more ponderous, and
the heap larger beyond comparifon, the whole is vanilhed we
know not how or whither. An antient author has deferibed it
as Handing at the head of the port, and Chining as a meteor..
We may add, that as fuch too it has fince difappeared.
I t has been fuppofed, that the fouterrain by the morals or
city-port, with two pieces of antient wall, of fquare Hone, by
one of which is the entrance to it, are reliques of the temple w
but that fpot was nearly in the centre of the city o f Lyfimachus;
and befides, the temple was raifed on a lofty bafement with;
In the year o f Chrift 262,
fieps.
T R A V E L S : i n A S I A M I N O R . 141
fieps. The edifice was deemed a wonder, not for its form, as
at all uncommon; but for the grandeur of its proportions, the
excellence of its workmanfhip, and the magnificence of its decorations.
The vaulted fubftruCtions by the ftadium might, it
is believed, furnifh an area correfponding better with this idea,'
and more fuited to receive the mighty fabric ; which, however,
it has been fliown above was in the plain and diftinCt, though
not remote from the prefent city. .
A w r i t e r , who lived toward’ the end of the fecond century,
has cited a Sibyl as foretelling, that, the earth opening and
quaking, the temple of Diana would be fwallowed, like a fhip
in a florin, into the abyfs; and Ephefus lamenting and weeping
by the river-banks; would enquire for it, then inhabited no
more. I f the authenticity of the oracle were undifputed, and
the Sibyl aeknowleged a genuine prophetefs, we might infer
from the vifible condition of the place, the full accomplifhment
of the whole prediction. We now leek in vain for the temple e
the city is proftrate; and the goddefs gone.
C H A P . XL.
Leave Aiafaluck — Road to Scala Nova — O f Phygela — O f
Ortygia — The lower way — Changes— - O f Scala Nova.
A F T E R flaying at Aiafaluck four days, we fet out at half
paft feven in the morning, with a guide on an afs, for Nea-
polis or Scala Nova, diflant three hours. The plain was covered
with mud and flime from the recent inundation. It produces
corn, cotton, fefamus, and tobacco; but in lèverai places was
fwampy and overgrown with rufhes and reeds. • Flocks, and
herds, and camels were feeding on it. We had Ephefus and
the morafs or port on our left hand, until we were oppofite the
fquare tower, which has been mentioned as Handing on a
precipice.
W t