File:Five years in Damascus (1855) (14767760371).jpg

Identifier: fiveyearsindamas02port (find matches)
Title: Five years in Damascus
Year: 1855 (1850s)
Authors: Porter, J. L. (Josias Leslie), 1823-1889
Subjects: Damascus (Syria) -- Description and travel Syria -- Description and travel Syria -- Antiquities
Publisher: London : J. Murray
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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vine, which runs past it from about south-east to north-west. As the ground slopes in the direction of the courseof the wady more rapidly than the bed of the stream, theprecipitous banks are much loftier at the upper than at thelower part of the ruins. I estimated the extreme lengthof the city at about a mile, and the breadth nearly half amile. On the southern side of the ruins is also a wady ofconsiderable depth, and beyond it rises up a gracefulwooded hill. The ancient walls run along the brink ofthe ravine, being in some places founded on the very edgeof the scarped rock. After reaching the top they arecarried over the rocky ridge and then westward for nearlyhalf a mile along the brow of the second wady, when theyturn down the declivity in a zigzag course toward thenorth-west. The north-western section of the city I didnot examine minutely, as it seems to contain only the ruinsof private houses. The accompaning plan I drew up fromsketches made from several commanding positions, and
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Chap. XI. OF JEBEL HAURAX. 91 from estimates of the length of the streetsby the time ittook me to walk along them. It is merely intended togive the reader an idea of the situation of the city and theposition of the principal ruins. After leaving the sheikhs house we walked up a streetalong the brow of the ravine; the ancient pavement is inexcellent preservation. On the right are ruins of largeprivate houses, solidly and elegantly built. The stonedoors especially attracted my attention, as most of them arepanelled and have ornamental mouldings, while a few areadorned with wreaths and fruit in bas-relief. I observedan ancient aqueduct running parallel to the street. Thismust have been a favourite quarter with the chief men ofthe city, for the private mansions appear to have been allspacious and expensively built. The situation, too, isattractive—the wild ravine lying below, with its foamingtorrent dashing over a rocky bed, and its theatre andtemple; and the castellated heights above,

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