208 NAPOLEON'S TRIUMPHAL PILLAR. ' 



improved upon the original, which is comparatively low and heavy, 

 whilst their cupolas are lofty, light and elegant, but several of the other 

 Mosques far exceed Santa Sophia in situation, boldness and beauty, 

 particularly that of Sultan Achmet. The length of the Mosque of Saint 

 Sophia is 114 paces; its breadth is 80, with a portico in front of 36 

 feet wide ; this is supported by beautiful marble columns, and commu- 

 nicates with the interior by nine splendid folding doors, having some 

 considerable remains of fine bas-reliefs and mosaic work ; parallel to this is a 

 second portico with five gates of brass, but the ornaments have been defaced. 

 The top of the Mosque has a dome of beautiful structure, said to be 113 

 feet in diameter, and 189 feet in height, and is supported by immense 

 pillars of white marble; it receives light from 24 wooden windows, and is 

 wholly without interior ornaments, the Moslem faith not allowing of any 

 statues or paintings. 



NAPOLEON'S TRIUMPHAL PILLAR, AT PARIS. (14) 



In the centre of the place, Vendome, and in the most splendid quarter 

 of Paris, stands the famous triumphal pillar which Bonaparte erected to 

 commemorate the success of his arms in Germany, in the campaign of 

 1805. Its total elevation is 135 feet, and the diameter of the shaft is 12 

 feet. It is in imitation of the pillar of Trajan, at Rome, and is built of 

 stone, covered with bas-reliefs (representing the various victories of the 

 French army), cast from twelve hundred pieces of cannon taken from the 

 Russian and Austrian armies. The bronze employed in this monument 

 was 360,000 pounds weight. The column is of the Doric order; the 

 bas-reliefs of the pedestal represent the uniforms and the weapons of the 

 conquered legions. Above the pedestal are festoons of oak, supported 

 at the four angles by eagles, in bronze, each weighing five hundred 

 pounds. The bas-reliefs of the shaft pursue a spiral direction, from the 

 base to the capital, and display in chronological order the principal 

 actions of the campaign, from the departure of the troops from Boulogne, 

 to the battle of Austerlitz. The figures are three feet high; their number 

 is said to be two thousand, and the length of the spiral band is 840 feet. 

 Above the capital is a gallery, which is approached by a winding stair- 

 case within, of one hundred and seventy six steps. Upon the capital is 

 the following inscription : 



