150 ANCIENT KINGS OF ARABIA 



of excavated suburb, accessible only by flights of 

 steps chiselled out of the rock. In short, the outer 

 surface of the strong girdle that encircles the place 

 is hollowed out into innumerable artificial chambers 

 of different dimensions, whose entrances are vari- 

 ously, richly, and often fantastically decorated with 

 every order of architecture ; showing how the pride 

 and labour of art has tried to vie with the sublimity 

 of nature. The effect of the whole is heightened by 

 the appearance of Mount Hor towering above this 

 eity of sepulchres, and perforated almost to the top 

 with natural caverns and excavations for the dead. 



The immense number of these stupendous ruins 

 corroborates the accounts given, both by sacred and 

 profane writers, of the kings of Petra, their courtly 

 grandeur, and their ancient and long-continued roy- 

 alty. Great must have been the opulence of a capital 

 that could dedicate such monuments to the memory 

 of its rulers. Its magnificence can only be explained 

 by a reference to the immense trade of which it was 

 the common centre froni the dawn of civilization. 

 The structure of many of these edifices denotes 

 pretty nearly the age to which they belong. Their 

 relics exhibit a mixture of Grecian and Roman 

 architecture, although the ground is strewn with 

 others of a more ancient date. Among the views 

 given by the French travellers is one of a tomb on 

 which is engraven a Latin inscription, with the name 

 of a magistrate, Quintus Pretextus Florentinus, who 

 died in that city, being governor of Palestina Tertia 

 about the time of Adrian or Antonine (A. D. 126-160). 

 These writers have illustrated and described another 

 splendid monument, — a temple situated westward, 

 on the bank of the river, — the only edifice in that 

 spot which has resisted the ravages of time. The 

 outlines of its beautiful architecture are tolerably 

 perfect ; and the cornice which surmounts the wall 

 is in a pure and elegant style. 



These magnificent remains can now be regarded 



