Part 22 - Examination of island ruins and ancient maritime use

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SUMMARY:
The writer describes an uninhabited island with later-period ruins, including a probable temple on the highest point, a harbor, and many houses. While finding no evidence for a large city as described by Plato, they conclude the island served as a station for Phoenician, Greek, and Roman fleets. The examination is complete and the writer plans to return to the mainland.

CONTENT:
with the possible exception of the work on the southern side
of the island. There is, as yet, no evidence of the existence
of a large city such as that described by Plato. On the
other hand, now I have seen the ruins which remain
on the island, it is impossible to doubt that the
Phoenicians, the Greeks, and the Romans, all in their
turn, made use of the island as a station for their
fleets.

The ruins are, however, for the most part, of a much later date
than the period of the Phoenician occupation. The
most important of these ruins is that of a large
building, which was probably a temple. It is built of
large blocks of stone, and is situated on the
highest point of the island. From this point a
fine view of the sea can be obtained. On the
other side of the island, there are the remains of
a large harbor, which was probably used by the
Phoenician fleets. There are also the remains of
a large number of houses, which were probably
occupied by the inhabitants of the island.

The island is now uninhabited, and is only
visited by fishermen. It is a very lonely place,
and it is difficult to believe that it was once
the scene of so much activity.

I have now completed my examination of the
island, and I am about to return to the mainland.
I hope that the information which I have
obtained will be of some value to those who
are interested in the history of the