Researches in the highlands of Turkey; including visits to mounts Ida, Athos, Olympus, and Pelion, to the Mirdite Albanians, and other remote tribes (1869) (14770641961)

Identifier: researchesinhigh01toze (find matches)
Title: Researches in the highlands of Turkey; including visits to mounts Ida, Athos, Olympus, and Pelion, to the Mirdite Albanians, and other remote tribes
Year: 1869 (1860s)
Authors: Tozer, Henry Fanshawe, 1829-1916
Subjects: Albanians Ballads, Greek (Modern) Folklore -- Greece Turkey -- Description and travel Athos (Greece) Montenegro Greece -- Description and travel
Publisher: London : J. Murray
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN



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d of the tenth century,and stands near the sea, between steep wooded hills, atthe mouth of a deep valley, which runs down eastwardfrom the central ridge. As it ranks the third in numberand importance, and is a good specimen of the largerIdiorrhythmic monasteries, I propose to describe it some-what minutely. In shape it is an irregular square, andits appearance is extremely imposing, as the high stonewall by which it is surrounded makes it resemble a vastcastle. The domestic buildings, however, by which thiswall is surmounted are entirely at variance with this mi-litary aspect: they are of wood, singularly picturesque,projecting at different levels and angles, and supportedby sloping beams, which lean like brackets against thewall. From the roofs of these houses rise numerouschimneys, many of which, like the house-fronts them-selves, are painted with bright colours; behind theseappear the domes of the church ; while at the back of alla massive tower, which was probably used as a watch-
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Chap. IV. Tver on. 77 tower in more troublous times/ forms a conspicuousobject. Close to a dry river-bed, which lies behind themonastery, is a poor-house, where distressed seculars areprovided for; and on the heights above is a skete forlepers, who, as well as madmen, are sent to the HolyMountain to be taken care of It is no slight praise tothe monks that they provide a refuge for these outcastsof society. Again, on the hills to the north, is a sketefor Georgians, to which nation also lO of the 200 inmatesof the monastery belong. The cemetery may generallybe distinguished by a group of cypresses ; but there areno tombstones, as the bones are removed a certain timeafter interment, and laid in a common heap. Entering the monastery by the gateway, we passthrough a dark and winding passage, intended apparentlyto baffle a besieging force, and find ourselves in the greatcourt, in the centre of which, detached from the otherbuildings, stands the principal church. What first attractsour atten