503 TEMPLE OF HEL10POLI5. 



temple, except that the pillars have no pedestals, and the niches 

 stand upon the pavement. The two large square pillars, which so 

 remarkably distinguish this part of the temple, are thought to have 

 supported a canopy ; but nothing of that kind is to be seen now. 

 In the bottom of this choir is a vast marble niche, where stood the 

 principal deity here worshipped. In this choir are seen the most 

 finely imagined sculptures, festoons, birds, flowers, fruits ; and fine 

 bas-reliefs, Neptunes, Tritons, fishes, sea. gods, Arion and his 

 dolphin, and other mar-ne figures. The cieling or vault of this 

 temp[e is bold, and divided into compartments filled with excellent 

 carvings. It is open towards the middle ; but whether a cupola or 

 lantern stood there for the admission of light, or whether it was al. 

 ways open, cannot be judged at this distance of time. In a word, 

 the charming symmetry, the correct taste, and the height wherewith 

 all the carvings are finished, even at such elevations, where so great 

 niceness is thought unnecessary, are such, that it may be truly said , 

 the whole pile is without the least blemish. The whole stands 

 upon vaults of such excellent architecture, and so bold a turn, that 

 it is thought they served for something more than merely the sup- 

 port of the superincumbent weight, and may have been a subter- 

 raneous temple, applied to some particular service in the Pagan 

 worship. And, though this temple now stands by itself, there are 

 evident marks that it was accompanied by other buildings, no way 

 unworthy of it ; among which are reckoned four different ascents 

 to it, one upon each angle, with marble steps so long that eight or 

 ten persons may go up abreast. 



Within the walls of this castle, as it is now called, are also great 

 remains of what must have been a palace scarce inferior to any 

 royal seat that has ever been in the world ; but, being by no means 

 in so perfect a state as the temple, we shall speak of it in general 

 terms, and of such parts only as deserve our greatest attention. 

 But, first of all, it must be observed, that the old wall, which in- 

 closed both this and the temple above described, is built of such 

 monstrous blocks of stone, as exceed all belief, and have given 

 birth to a tradition among the natives, that the whole is the work 

 of the devil. There are particularly three, which lie end for end 

 with each other, and which together extend one hundred eighty- 

 three feet in length, whereof one is sixty.three feet long, and the 

 other two sixty apiece. Their depth is twelve feet, and the ir 

 breadth the same ; and, what adds to the wonder, these stones are 



