3^ PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO IGqS. 



Presently after we were struck with an amazing sight of a multitude of mar- 

 ble pillars standing scattered up and down, for the space of near a mile of ground, 

 but so disposed as to afford no foundation to judge what sort of structures they 

 formerly formed. Passing the remains of a handsome mosque, we had the 

 prospects of such magnificent ruins, that if we may frame a conjecture of the 

 original beauty of the place, by what is still remaining, it may be questionetl 

 whether any city in the world could have vied with it in magnificence. Towards 

 the north is a stately obelisk, consisting of/ large stones, besides its capital and 

 the wreathed work above it ; the carvings are exceedingly fine ; its height is 

 above 50 feet , and upon it probably stood a statue, which the Turks may have 

 thrown down and broken in pieces. It is in compnss, just above the pedestal, 

 12i feet. On each side of this, towards the east and west, are seen two other 

 large pillars, each a quarter of a mile distant, and part of another standing neat 

 that of the east, which would incline one to think there was once a continued 

 row of them. The height of that to the east is more than 42 feet, and the 

 circumference in proportion. Upon the body of it is an inscription, in ancient 

 Greek capitals, from which it seems evident they were a free state, governed by 

 a senate and people, though perhaps under the protection of greater empires, 

 the Parthians, and afterwards the Romans, who for a long time contended for 

 the mastery ; and this government might continue among them till about the 

 time of Aurelian, who demolished the place, and led Zenobia, wife of Ode- 

 natus, captive to Rome ; who, though she be called queen, yet we find not that 

 ever her husband had the title of king : but was only one of the chief inhabi- 

 tants, a leading man in the senate ; who, while the Romans were busied in 

 Europe, made himself great here, and by his own force repelled the Parthians ; 

 who, having mastered whatever was held by the Romans on the other side of 

 the Euphrates, made an incursion into Syria, but were driven back beyond the 

 river by Odenatus. In the course of these wars Odenatus was slain ; but his 

 wife Zenobia, being a woman of a masculine spirit, not only maintained her 

 ground against her enemies abroad, but preserved her authority at home, keep- 

 ing the government in her hands. Afterwards, out of a desire to cast off" the 

 Roman yoke, she caused the whole garrison, which was left there by Aurelian, 

 to be barbarously cut off": which bringing Aurelian back with his army, he 

 quicklv took the city and destroyed it, putting the inhabitants to the sword, and 

 carrying Zenobia captive to Rome, which was the flital period of the glory of 

 the place. The other pillar towards the west in height and circumference 

 answers this, and has upon the side a similar inscription engraved. 



Proceeding forward, directly from the obelisk, about 100 paces, you come to 

 a magnificent entrance, very large and lofty, and for the exquisiteness of the 



