第 48 节
作者:双曲线      更新:2022-04-14 11:08      字数:9322
  a Cypriote inscription; from the temple of Paphos;〃 which would suggest
  from their appearance that gout was not uncommon even within the temple
  of Venus。 In continuation he writes; page 210:
  〃The great temple of Venus was situated on an
  eminence; which at present is at a distance of about
  twenty…five minutes' walk from the sea。 Some parts
  of its colossal walls are still standing; defying time and
  the stone…cutter; though badly chipped by the latter。
  One of the wall…stones measured fifteen feet ten
  inches in length; by seven feet eleven inches in width
  and two feet five inches in thickness。 The stone is
  not from Cyprus; but being a kind of blue granite;
  must have been imported either from Cilicia or from
  Egypt。
  〃The temple as rebuilt by Vespasian seems to have
  occupied the same area as the former temple; and was
  surrounded by a peribolos; or outer wall。 Of this
  a few huge blocks only are now extant。 On the west
  side of this outer wall there was a doorway still
  plainly visible。 Its width was seventeen feet nine
  inches。 The two sockets for the bolts upon which
  the door swung are of the following dimensions:
  length six inches; width four and a half inches; depth
  three and a half inches。 The south…east wall; I ascertained;
  by excavating its whole length; was690 feet
  long。 The length of the west side I could only trace
  as far as 272 feet; its continuance being hiddenbeneath
  the houses of Kouklia。 The length of the other two
  sides I was unable to ascertain for similarreasons。
  The walls of the temple itself; made of the kind of
  stone previously mentioned; but not in such huge
  blocks; I was able to trace correctly; bydint of
  patience; and though very little is seen above ground;
  yet; strange to say; the four corner…stonesare still
  standing。 The north…east corner…stone iscased in
  a house in Kouklia; forming part of its wall; that
  of the north…west stands in a cross…street of the village
  by itself。 Some European travellers have mistaken it
  from its present shape for the emblematic cone of
  Venus。 The south…east corner stands also by itself
  in an open field; where the Christian population of
  Kouklia burn lamps and little wax…candles; but in
  honour of whom; or for what purpose; I did not
  inquire。 The fourth corner…stone likewise forms part
  of a modern dwelling…house。
  〃The temple was oblong and of the following
  dimensions: the eastern and western walls measure
  221 feet; and the two other sides 167 feet。 I cannot
  vouch for the exact measurement on account of the
  difficulties I had to encounter; nevertheless the difference
  can be of some inches only。 The corner…stone of
  the north…west side has a hole in it thirteen inches in
  diameter; a similar hole also exists in the south…west
  corner of the outer wall。 As the temple at Paphos
  possessed an oracle; these strange holes; which go
  through the entire stone; may have been connected
  with it。 This at least was the opinion of Dr。
  Friederichs when he came to pay me a visit at
  Paphos。
  〃From this spot; if a person stand upon this huge
  perforated stone; he can produce a clear and fine echo
  of a phrase of three or four words; pronounced in a
  hollow tone of voice。〃
  It is quite possible that the tricks of acoustics may have been
  practised by the priests who officiated at oracular shrines; which would
  have awed the ignorant multitude; as in sacred groves a tree might have
  been made to speak by the simple contrivance of a man concealed within
  the hollow stem; which to outward appearance would have been considered
  solid。 The devices of priestcraft to bring grist to their mill are not
  yet obsolete; as will be seen in many of the monasteries of Cyprus。
  All the grandeur of ancient days was now represented by the heaps of
  stones and the rock caverns which mark the site of Paphos。 What became
  of Venus after her appearance upon this shore may be left to the
  imagination; why she is represented by the exceedingly plain women of
  modern Cyprus surpasses the imagination。 Perhaps the immorality
  connected with the ancient worship of the goddess of beauty and of love
  invoked a curse upon the descendants in the shape of 〃baggy trousers;
  high boots; and ugliness:〃 to which dirt has been a painful addition。
  CHAPTER IX。
  FROM BAFFO TO LIMASOL。
  We left Ktima on 23rd April for Limasol。 The weather was now perfect for
  out…door life; the thermometer 52 degrees at 7 A。M。; and 70 degrees at 3
  P。M。 The route was agreeable; the crops were well irrigated by numerous
  streams led from the mountains; and the country generally was green and
  well wooded。 After a march of fourteen miles; during which we had passed
  the ruins of several ancient aqueducts; we arrived at a running stream
  which issued from a narrow valley between cliffs and hills and emptied
  itself upon the sea…beach。 A number of tamarisks formed a jungle near
  the mouth; and the banks were a bright rose…colour; owing to the full
  bloom of thickets of oleanders。 This was a charming halting…place; and
  as the beach was strewn with dry timber that had been brought down from
  the mountains during the season when the stream was powerful; we should
  have a good supply of fuel in addition to fresh water。 The route had
  been along the flat parallel with the sea from Ktima; and I noticed a
  wonderful change in the pace of the camels; as I had summoned Iiani when
  at the capital of the district before the Cadi at the Konak; and the
  chief commissioner had added his voice to the threat and monitions he
  had received concerning his future conduct regarding early starting and
  attention to my orders。 Captain Wauchope had kindly furnished me with an
  excellent Turkish zaphtieh; or mounted policeman; whose red jacket and
  fez commanded a certain respect。 This man was mounted upon a strong;
  well…built; and exceedingly active pony; or small horse; which led the
  way; as our new guide thoroughly knew the country。
  While all hands were pitching the tent upon a sandy turf within a few
  yards of the sea…beach I took the dogs for a ramble up the
  thickly…wooded valley along the banks of the stream; as I had observed a
  number of blue…rock pigeons among the white cliffs; and I thought I
  might perhaps find a hare for the evening stew。 I killed some pigeons;
  but did not move a hare; although the dogs worked through most promising
  ground; where green crops upon the flat bottom surrounded by thick
  coverts afford both food and shelter。 We were returning to camp when I
  suddenly heard Merry and Shot barking savagely in some thick bushes upon
  the steep bank of the stream。 At first I thought they had found a
  hedgehog; which was always Shot's amusement; as he constantly brought
  them into camp after he had managed to obtain a hold of their prickly
  bodies。 The barking continued; and as I could not penetrate the bush; I
  called the dogs off。 They joined me almost immediately; looking rather
  scared。 It now occurred to me that they might have found a snake; as a
  few days ago I had heard Merry barking in a similar manner; and upon
  joining him I had discovered a snake coiled up with head erect in an
  attitude of defence。 I had killed the snake and scolded the dog; as I
  feared he would come to an untimely end; should he commence snake…
  hunting in so prolific a field as Cyprus。 Since that time all the dogs
  hunted the countless lizards which ran across the path during the march;
  and Shot was most determined in his endeavours to scratch them out of
  their holes。
  I had called my three dogs together; and we were walking across a field
  of green wheat; when I suddenly missed Shot; and he was discovered lying
  down about fifty paces in our rear。 Merry; who usually was pluck and
  energy itself; was following at my heels and looking stupid and subdued。
  This dog was indomitable; and his fault was wildness at the commencement
  of the day; I could not now induce him to hunt; and his eyes had a
  peculiar expression; as though his system had suffered some severe
  shock。 Shot came slowly when I called him; but he walked with
  difficulty; and his jaws were swollen。 I now felt sure that the dogs
  were bitten by a snake; which they had been baying when I heard them in
  the bush about five minutes before。 We were very near the camp; and the
  dog crept home slowly at my heels。 Upon examination there was no doubt
  of the cause; Shot had wounds of a snake's fangs upon his lip; under the
  eye; and upon one ear; he must have been the first bitten; as he had
  evidently received the greatest discharge of poison。 Merry was bitten in
  the mouth and in one ear; both of which were already swollen; but not to
  the same degree as Shot; who; within an hour; had a head as large as a
  small calf's; and his eyes were completely closed。 I had not the
  slightest hope of his recovery; as his throat had swollen to an enormous
  size; which threatened suffocation。 I could do nothing for the poor dogs
  but oil their mouths; although knew that the poison would assuredly
  spread throughout the system。 The dogs ha