HISTORY ETHNOGRAPHY NATURE WINE-MAKING SITE MAP
Selected and rare materials, excerpts and observations from ancient, medieval and contemporary authors, travelers and researchers about Cyprus.
 
 
 
 
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SIR SAMUEL WHITE BAKER
CYPRUS AS I SAW IT IN 1879
page 259

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by itself. Some European travellers have mistaken from its present shape for the emblematic cone ο Venus. The south-east corner stands also by itself in an open field, where the Christian population ο Kouklia burn lamps and little wax-candles, but i 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 measur 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 differ enee can be of some inches only. The corner-stone the north-west side has a hole in it thirteen inches diameter ; a similar hole also exists in the south-w corner of the outer wall. A s the temple at Paphos possessed an oracle, these strange holes, which go through the entire stone, may have been connecte with it. This at least was the opinion of Dr Friederichs when he came to pay me a visit a Paphos. " From this spot, if a person stand upon this huge perforated stone, he can produce a clear and fine echo J of a phrase of three or four words, pronounced in a hollow tone of voice. " It is quite possible that the tricks of acoustics mayhave 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.

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