308 MAGNIFICENT UUINS OP PALMVKA. 



Ju the west side of the above piazza are several openings, sup. 

 posed to hare been for gates, which led into the- court of the 

 palace. Two of these gates look as if they had been the most 

 magnificent and glorious in the world, both for the elegance of the 

 work in general, and for the stately porphyry pillars, wherewith 

 they were adorned. Each gate had four, not standing in a line with 

 those of the wall, but placed by couples in the front of the gate, 

 facing the palace, two on the one hand, and two on the other. Of 

 these porphyry pillars, there are bnt two intire, and but one stand- 

 ing in its proper place. They are about thirty feet in length, and 

 nine in circumference, and of so very hard a consistence, that it is a 

 difficult matter to injure them. These, of all the pieces of porphyry 

 here found, are the most beautiful. The palace itself is so com- 

 pletely demolished, that there is no forming a judgment of what it 

 has been, either for majesty or ornament. It plainly appears to 

 have been thrown down by violence, which, together with the length 

 of time, has quite defaced this once noble pile, there being only 

 broken pieces of its walls left standing here-and-there. But it is 

 very likely, that it fronted the famous piazza before-mentioned, 

 and that it was surrounded with rows of pillars of different orders, 

 many of which are still standing, some plain, and some wrought 

 and chanelled, as those immediately encompassing the temple. To 

 these pillars also there are pedestals with inscriptions. 



On the east side of the same piazza is, if the expression may be 

 allowed, a wood of marble pillars, some perfect, some deprived of 

 their beautiful capitals, but so scattered and confused, that there it 

 no reducing them to order, or conjecturing to what use they for. 

 merly served. In one place are eleven together, forming a square 



in this disposition, \ * paved with broad flat stone, but without 



any manner of roof. 



At a little distance from hence, is a small ruined temple, which 

 by what remains of it, appears to have been a very curious edifice. 



The entrance into this temple looks to the south, and before it 

 is a piazza of six pillars, two on one side of the door, and two on 

 the othr, and one at each end. The pedestals of those in the front 

 have been filled up with inscriptions in Greek and other characters, 

 but scarce intelligible. 



But of all the venerable remains of this desolate place, non 

 more attract the admiration of the curious, than their costly se. 



