GBYPT^, or catacombs of ALEXANDRIA. 5-i7 
\ ^ square chamber, almost filled with earth : tc 
'i' the *■ smaller apartments, chiselled 
j ®^ch of these contains on eitlier side of it, 
^^ 3 t of the entrance, a Soros for the reception of a 
accumulation of sand in all or 
'‘lit ' ^s pai't of the Catacombs cannbt be examined with- 
N«d Leaving the first chamber, we found a 
\j still larger dimensions, having four Cryptae with 
V ‘ *■"'0 on either side, and a fifth at its extremity towards 
St ^^’■^'-east. From hence, penetrating towards the 
W "'® passed through another forced aperture, which 
^ df. ioto a square chamber, without any receptacles 
H 'todies ; thence, pursuing a south-western course, 
*^ta *®'’ered in effecting a passage, over heaps of sand, 
chamber to another, admiring eveiy where the 
^t,ij*^‘‘b'aordinaiy effects of labour and ingenuity, until we 
[litj. P^ii'selves bewildered with so many passages, that our 
Nliu became of more importance than we at first 
%1 d it would prove to be. At last we reached the 
Ntji ^"dchamber of the principal sepulchre, which had 
I 'Vjj^f’P^^rance of being intended for a regal repository. 
a circular form, surrnounted by a beautiful dome, 
f'irc5|.°dt of the rock, with exquisite perfection, and the 
^“'‘plicity of workmanship. In a few of the chambers 
‘'ite, |?'’ed pilasters, resembling, in their style of architec- 
Doric, with architraves, as in some of the most 
^rijj yGpulchres near Jerusalem ; but tliey were all integral 
rock. The dome covering the circular 
tf*' without ornament ; the entrance to it being 
ftiig tionh- west. Opposite to this entrance w^as a hand- 
?t \(.g'ldare Crypt with three Soroi ; and to tlie right and 
V ^'TP^*> similarly surrounded with places for 
i '’*Ptu ' Hereabouts we observed the remarkable symbol, 
•"'''^'kle t of an orb with extending wings, evidently 
5 represent tlie subterraneous Sun, or Sol Inferus, 
by Macrobius. We endeavoured to penetrate 
^“er , 
:'5l jj '“Wards 
-“'F— V.U.S cu. 
directions, but the labour of the 
the south-west and 
complete wing of the vast fabric extendi 
south, and found 
tr 
research was 
e .'''■yptac upon the south-west side corresponded with 
bich we have described towards the north-east. In 
