Proceedings of the expedition to explore the northern coast of Africa, from Tripoly eastward : $b in MDCCCXXI. and MDCCCXXII., comprehending an account of the Greater Syrtis and Cyrenaica; and of the ancient cities composing the pentapolisBeechey, Frederick William
History
Proceedings of the expedition to explore the northern coast of Africa, from Tripoly eastward : $b in MDCCCXXI. and MDCCCXXII., comprehending an account of the Greater Syrtis and Cyrenaica; and of the ancient cities composing the pentapolis
Beechey, Frederick William
Sidra, Gulf of (Libya); Tripoli (Libya) -- Antiquities; Tripoli (Libya) -- Discovery and exploration
We may observe with regard to the structure of these forts,
that some of them have the habitable part of the building (which
is always of a quadrangular form, and placed in the centre)
surrounded by a double wall of very solid work; leaving a space
between the walls, of ten, twenty, and thirty feet, sometimes of
more, in which wells are occasionally found, and which may have
served for the accommodation of the horses, sheep, or cattle of the
garrison. Others have been built in one solid mass, with sloping
sides, resembling the base of a pyramid, having only a square
space left in the centre for the accommodation of the troops and
the stowage of stores and provision. On these there is always a
platform, and sometimes two, the sides of which form a glacis at
a slope of from thirty to forty-five degrees, some of them being
steeper than others: it seems probable that a parapet originally
existed on the platforms of some of the forts, behind which the
troops might more securely encounter their enemies; but on most
of them there are now no traces of any defence of this nature,
and the platform is left exposed. The lower platform is usually
raised about ten and fifteen feet from the ground, and the upper
one about eight or twelve feet above that. Trenches are rarely seen
round the last mentioned buildings, but those enclosed within walls
usually possessed that additional defence. Both are constructed
with stone found in the neighbourhood, generally without any
cement, particularly the sloping ones, although a very good cement
may sometimes be observed in them: the most considerable forts
are built with large and regularly-shaped stones, while the more
unimportant are composed of stones of unequal forms and sizes, care
being always taken, however, to leave a smooth surface on the slope
of the glacis, in order to make the ascent more difficult. If we
suppose that the greater number of these fortresses were built as
defences against the attacks of the predatory natives, and not to
resist the regular siege of a disciplined army, it may certainly be
allowed that they were well calculated to afford security to their
garrisons on such occasions; but their resources must soon have
been exhausted by a continued blockade, the space enclosed being
inadequate to contain many stores or much provision. As, however,
there could scarcely have been any accommodation for horses or cattle
in the pyramidal-shaped forts, which are by far the most numerous,
more provision might certainly have been stowed in them than would
at first sight be imagined. From the extreme height of the habitable
part of these buildings in proportion to its breadth, we may conclude
that it possessed an upper story, or, it may be, two; for otherwise
a great portion of space would be thrown away: this fact, however,
from their ruined state, could not be properly ascertained.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account