SECOND AND THIRD RANGE. 



295 



From the back of this platform the grand stair- 

 case rises again, having the same width, fifteen 

 steps to the roof of the second range, which forms 

 a platform in front of the third range ; this last is, 

 unfortunately, in a ruinous condition, and it is to be 

 observed that in this, as in all the other cases, these 

 ancient architects never placed an upper building on 

 the roof of a lower one, but always back, so as to rest 

 on a structure solid from the ground, the roof of the 

 lower range being merely a platform in front of the 

 upper one. 



The circumference of this building is six hundred 

 and thirty-eight feet, and its height, when entire, 

 was sixty-five feet. It seems to have been con- 

 structed only with reference to the second range of 

 apartments, upon which the art and skill of the 

 builders have been lavishly expended. It is one 

 hundred and four feet long and thirty feet wide, and 

 the broad platform around it, though overgrown with 

 grass several feet high, formed a noble promenade, 

 commanding a magnificent view of the whole sur- 

 rounding country. 



On the side of the staircase are five doorways, 

 of which the three centre ones are what are usually 

 called false doors, appearing to be merely recesses in 

 the wall. The compartments between the door- 

 ways contained combinations of ornaments of un- 

 usual taste and elegance, both in arrangement and 

 design. The two extreme doorways open into 

 chambers, in each of which are three long recesses 



