An invaluable inscription this, if the thing, to which it relates, had been found with it; for it seems to imply the hiding of a medal under the stone, which bore the inscription, that so, when time should destroy the building, the emperor’s face might be communicated to posterity.
Our way did not lead us by the aqueduct six miles from the city, in which is to be seen that large Latin and Greek inscription, printed in Sir George Wheler’s Travels[53]. Nor did we find those imperfect lines, which he took from a stone half buried in the ground[54]. But there is this perfect inscription on a stone near the gate of the old citadel, with which we shall here finish our account of Ephesus.
Η ΒΟΥΛΗ ΕΤΕΙΜΗΣΕΝ ΠΟΠΛΙΟΝ ΑΙΛΙΟΝ ΦΛΑΒΙΑΝΟΝ
ΑΠΟΛΛΟΔΩΡΟΝ ΑΣΠΕΝΔΙΟΝ ΦΙΛΟΛΟΓΟΝ ΤΟ ΔΕ ΜΝΗ-
ΜΕΙΟΝ ΚΑΤΕΣΚΕΥΑΣΕΝ ΠΟΠΛΙΟΣ ΑΙΛΙΟΣ ΦΛΑΒΙΑΝΟΣ
ΖΩΙΛΟΣ Ο ΑΔΕΛΦΟΣ ΑΥΤΟΥ ΖΗ
May ii.
It was a rainy and tempestuous morning, when, as we lay yet a sleep in the public kane, a terrible clap of thunder discharged itself seemingly in the very room. The vehemence of the noise awakened us in great astonishment; and our eyes were no sooner opened, but the whole place seemed to be filled with a red blaze of fire. Each person was first solicitous for the safety of his companions, and afterwards for that of the horses, which were dispersed in their stations about the door. But finding that we had received no detriment, either in our goods or persons, we blessed God for our deliverance; and concluded by an infallible argument, that the displosion must needs be extremely near us, in that the light continued for some time after the sound.
We mount by six a clock, and now determine our return to Smyrna; to which there lies a straight tho difficult and craggy road, over the top of the Alymán; upon which account we thought it preferable to take the way of the plains. This first led us over the bridge of the Caýster, and then quickly after round the abrupt precipice of the Alymán, and that old castle upon its edge, which we had before so much in view, as we rode from Tyria. From hence we pass thro a variety of low woods and pastures, which in themselves were pleasant and diverting; tho the fountains being all dry about this quarter, we were much distressed for want of water. About four hours and a quarter from Ephesus we descry on our left hand, on the rising of the hill, the deplorable remainder of the castle of Metropolis; and at the foot thereof such apparent traces of foundations, with variety of hewn marble, as permitted us no longer to doubt concerning the place of that waste city. And it may be added, that computing our way by hours, as Strabo does by furlongs[55], we did not greatly differ from his account, who places it at little more than a third part of the distance betwixt Ephesus and Smyrna. Not far from hence we begin to approach a small, tho not shallow river, runing on our right hand, which probably is the Phyrites of Pliny[56] mingling, as he describes it, with the Caýster, not far from the Stagnum Pegasaeum, or that lake, which we before observed in our way from Tyria to Ephesus. Beyond this river we saw a large extended pasture, overspread with the flocks, herds, and tents of Turcmen. They had here pitched their station to the number of fourteen hundred; for as we staid to taste their milk, and to view their habitations, they themselves gave us this account, reckoning about two hundred tents, and seven persons more or less appertaining to each. As the whole race of the Turks were nothing else but a numerous colony, that swarmed from Scythia; so these Turcmen seem to be the peculiar descendants of the Nomades Scythae, or Shepherd Scythians, and like them make it their employment to breed and nurture cattle. To this end they never assemble in towns, or betake themselves to houses; but flit from place to place, as the season of the year directs, and seize without control the vast neglected pastures of this desert empire.