WONDEBS OF AET. 
projects a comice wrought with figures of niatchl^*^ 
manship ; these rise above the capitals \rlth so 
that the e)'e, however perfect it may be, cannot 
the part in which they are joined. At the present pja 
greater part of this colonnade is destroyed, the f 
alone remaining perfect and upriglit. This fabj^t jn^ 
elevation of 500 feet, and is 400 feet in length' 
exterior, and behind, it is flanked by two 
similar to those of the first fa 9 ade, the whole 
from the wall, which withinside is provided with lo ‘ 
to keep otf the enemy, in case of necessity, by 
of stones, fire, &c. It also surrounds the oolonnJ . 
particularly in the part which looks towards the *• 
the left flank rises a temple, which tradition i 
hall of audience of Solomon, in height at least 80 
long and large in proportion. Its stones are all 
with bass-reliefs, similar to those which ornament . 
iurophs 
Several of these bass-reliefs have b^‘ ^ pt 
I . ■ (V 
column at Home, representing many triurophs^^^ 
engagements 
by the Saracens, who are the decided enc 
sculptures. Withoutside this grand hall is an a ''^n 
,u.es gl'ij 
same size and breadth, where the traveller ndm't^^ 
portal constructed with three stones only, attache ' j, 
in the middle part, serving as an architrave, 
garland of laurel interwoven with flowers, ^ -jgs t’* jl' 
admirably sculptured in bas-relief. At ibe p’‘ 
portal are placed two columns, in one of whic > 
formed of a single stone, is a winding staircase 
ascend to the architrave : the passage is je, jit* 
narrow. There is in the vicinity another •' 
octangular shape, with a portico of superb arch' hp 
naving three wiiulows on the side opposite to tn^^ P 
On a large stone are inscribed these 
Diviiio Mosei, on whicli Father Lcandci l'^||ir 
knows not wli;it interpretation to bestow. -J- 
turned to visit this .splendid vestige of antiquity 
Lvst ot these occasions, being well escorted, he 
.i" 
ftho ‘"Tstr'C 
the distance of about a mile, to the foot ot 
Damascus, whence the stones employed i 
were brought. He measured the stone ^ _ 
there, and which has been already noticed U’ 
intended for tlie fiftla in the construction ot d’O 
cof’ ji'' 
■- I .‘"’Vl 
