A RUINED CITY.

Western Star, 9 April 1920, Page 2

A RUINED CITY.

Rev. J. Arnott Hamilton, 8.D., in the course of a lecture in Edinburgh on “The Ruined City of Mistra, near Sparta, and its Byzantine Churches,” said this ruined medieval city was situated on a detached bill 2,000 ft in. height, overlooking the Lacedaemonian Plain. The modern town of Sparta and the sit© of ancient Sparta were about three miles distant. The situation was of great beauty, and the town itself was one of the most remarkable ruined cities in Europe. Its remains dated from many different epochs. The fortress on the summit was erected in 12-18 by William Villebardouin, French Prince of Aehaia. On a lower level extend the ruins of Byzantine days, including the Palace of the Despots. Further down Turkish remains and the modern Greek village were to be seen. Mistra’s most notable feature was « series of Byzantine church of the fourteenth and fifteenth cbnturies, of much architectural interest and charm. In the later days of the Byzantine Empire Mistra was a place of great importance, and the second sou of the Emperor resided there, The churches were the outcome of an ecclesiastical revival of those enturies, and were valuable examples of Byzantine architecture.' Some of the churches betrayed Western influence. The walls of three were covered 1 with a series of exquisite frescoes, the best of which had been said to be comparable to those of the Giotto,