[ l 7 2 ] 
I beg leave further to mention a remarkable ap- 
pearance in fome of the columns of this temple, viz; 
that that part of them, which was lowermoft, as 
well as that, which was neareft the capitals, is well 
preferved and pretty entire ; while part of the in- 
termediate fpace for two or three feet together is dis- 
coloured , as if it had fuffered by burning ; and alfo 
excavated in fuch a manner (9), as to contain multi- 
tudes of little fhell-ffth, which appear, like the pho- 
lades in fome ftones, almoft totally inclofed within 
their cells, lo as not to be got out without breaking. 
I know no way to account for this fo probable, as 
by fuppofing, that the lower parts of thefe column's 
were fecured by the mafs of rubbifh, that inclofed 
them, as the uppermoft were by their elevated fitua- 
tion, froffi being perforated either by the corrofive 
quality of the fea, which (according to tradition) 
formerly covered the fite of this temple ; or by the 
animalcula, which are bred in that element ; while 
the middle parts ftanding in the water were (per- 
haps for ages ) expofed to the injuries mentioned 
•above. I had no opportunity of taking the height 
of the uppermoft line, where the above-mentioned 
(9) The learned Abbate de Venuti, F.R.S. and Antiquary to 
the Pope at Rome, has lately by letter favoured me with an inge- 
nious account of this phenomenon ; tho’ he mentions the granite 
columns only as affe&ed by it. Cum column es, qv.ce circumibant 
templum , excavarentur e terra , quel erant partim obrutce — — minu- 
tijjimcs concha , quee ex tejlaccorum genere funt y atque in faxorutn 
rirnulis prope mare reperiuntur , ideoque a vulgo Trutti di Mare ap- 
pellatcs , columnas hafee ( i. e. Thcbaicas ) quam fespijjimc per f crave - 
rant , fefe componentes , veluti apes in alveari , cum cjjent fejunftce in- 
tegumentis ex ipfo lapide fubtilij[fimis. 
alteration 
5 
