A RECENT VISIT TO THE DALMATIAN COAST. 51 
for the numerous retinue of officers who attended his court, and 
was capable of lodging a whole pretorian cohort. 
The building was divided by two large streets, crossing each 
other at right angles, and leading to the three principal gates of 
the palace. Adam has noted that in the arrangement of these 
streets, and of the apertures of the villa, the architect has 
managed to avoid any inconvenience which might arise from the 
prevailing winds of the country. 
Passing through the Porta Aurea, the visitor to the palace would 
have found himself in a broad street with spacious arcades on 
either side running directly south. Of this arcaded street, as also 
of the one at right angles to it, but little or nothing remains, but 
beyond: the crossing of the other main street the remains of the 
old palace are still so perfect that it requires very little imagination 
to re-construct it in all its magnificence. On either side is the 
Peristyle, a name given to the area or court of the Roman Villa. 
In front of us is the porch of the vestibule, which is of the 
Corinthian order, but possesses several novel and important 
features, to which I shall presently call your attention. The 
vestibule itself is circular in form, as is usual. It was originally 
domed, but the dome has now fallen in. Next to the vestibule is 
the atrium, and from the atrium we pass to the Crypto Porticus, 
which is on the sea front of this vast building. It is an open 
cloistered gallery, 517 feet in length, and whilst primarily intended 
for walking and other exercises, served also most probably as a 
gallery adorned with statues, pictures, and das reliefs. 
Adjoining the atrium, and on the west side of it, was the 
basilica, a large room used for dramatic performances, and such 
like entertainments, whilst on the opposite side of the atrium was 
another large hall corresponding in size. 
The small square temple on the west of the peristyle was 
dedicated to A%sculapius, and is now the baptistery of the 
Cathedral. Itis one of the most perfect ancient buildings in the 
world, the lapse of fifteen centuries having left it almost untouched. 
On the opposite side of the peristyle is the octagonal temple 
which is generally believed to have been dedicated to Jupiter, who 
