146 MEMOIRSo/the 
Proceeding forwards dire6tly from the obelifk, about 100 paceSj 
you come to a magnificent entry., vaftly large and lofty, and for 
the exquifitcneis of the workmanfhip not inferior to any thing be- 
fore defcribed ; this entry leads into a noble piazza, above half a 
mile in length, and 4c foot in breadth, enclofed with two rows 
of ftatcly marble pillars, 16 foot high, and 8 or 9 foot in com- 
pafs^ of thele there remain Handing and entire 129, but by a 
moderate calculation, there could not have been lefs than 5^0. 
The upper end of this Ipacious piazza was fhut in by a row of 
pillars, ftanding Ibmewhat clofer than thofe on each fide; and 
perhaps there might have been a kind of banqueting- houfe above j 
but a little farther to the left hand, are the ruins of a very (lately 
building, which one may be apt to believe rmight have been 
allotted for fuch an ufe^ it is built of a better marble, and hath 
an air of delicacy and exquifitenefs in the work beyond what is 
difcernible in the piazza; the pillars, which fupported it, are of 
one entire ftone ; and one of them that was fallen down, but {6 
firm and ftrong as to receive no injury thereby, meafured 22 foot 
in length, and 8 foot 9 inches in compafs. In the weft fide of 
the great piazza, are ieveral apertures for gates, leading into the 
court of the palace; two whereof, one would eafily believe, 
when they were in their perfection, were the moil magnificent 
and glorious in the world, b6th for the elegancy of the work in 
general, and particularly for thole (lately porphyry pillars, with 
which they were adorned ; each gate had four of them, not 
ilanding in a line with the others of the wall, but placed by cou- 
ples in the front of the gate, facing the palace, two on one hand, 
and two on the other; of thefe only two remain entire, and but 
one ftanding in its place; they are about 30 foot in length, and 9 
in circumterence ; of a fubftance fo exceeding hard, that it was 
with great difficulty a piece could be broken off; but now the art 
of making them is quite loft. The palace itfelf is ib entirely 
ruined, that no judgment can be made what it was in its ancient 
iplendor, either for the figure or workmanfliip thereof 
Hot fulphureous baths are things very frequent in this country 5 
find hence it is, that it obtained the name of Syria Salurifera , 
the fcent of the waters here is much like thole of 'Bat/j in E^Jg- 
hfidy but not lb ftrong, nor the tafte lb oftenfive; on the con- 
trary, when they have run lb far from the fountain, as to become 
cold, they are very potable, and are the only water the inhabi- 
tants ule. 
On the eaft fide of the long piazza ftands a vaft number of 
marble pillars, Ibrae pcrfe6l, and others deprived of their beau- 
tiful 
