. . MAISON caeSee at NISMES. 503 
iJSht of tl'.e hill, ■which had tlius, with incredible labour, 
I'educed to a plane surface. It was erected in the year 
of the Christian era ; and the Emperor Constantine, two 
^i^^Wries and a half afterwards, regarded it as the most 
{^Stdflcent structure by which Rome was even at that time 
pillar is built of ■ft’hite marble, its base, consisting of 
Of o’e stones of an enormous size, being raised on a socle, 
V 4 steps : withinside is a stairca.se illuminated 
lijj 'tt'indows. Its height, equalling that of the hill which 
tfi levc'lled, to give place to the large square called thk 
ll *t'M noM.tNUM, is 140 feet, being 35 feet less elevated 
Of ' die Antonine column. The latter, the sculptured 
Vj II ^ents of which are not equally esteemed, is decorated 
’''■(a- '’®®'' ‘diefs representing the victories of Marcus Aurelius 
su die Marcomauni. A spiral staircase of nearly 200 
1'* leads to the summit of this column. 
KS. 
, MAISON CARREE, AT NISW 
■ *' tl 
i(ji ^Vniphilheatre of Nismes strikes the spectator w ith an 
'">11 
greatness and sublimitv, the Maisoii Carrie enchants 
Viil "''til tlie most exquisite beauties of architecture and 
Iqj, Pturf,_ q’ljjg gfjg structure, as is evidenced by the in- 
tf discovered on its front, was built by the inhabitants 
''"'>Uies, in hpnour of Caius Cesar, and Lucius Cesar, 
'if . '^j'ildren of Augustus, by his daughter Julia, the wife 
''ii p'*PPti. It stands upon a pediment 6 feet high, is 
long, 35 broad, and 37 in height, without reckoning 
"‘■'"■"ent. The body of it is adorned with 20 columns 
in the wall ; and the peristyle, which is open, with 
i'll ’■duelled pillars that support the entablature. They are 
»fl|jit. die Corinthian order, fluted and embellished with 
?>■(: " "^f the most exquisite sculpture : the frize and cornice 
llii; admired, and the foliage is esteemed inimitable. 
Svg ^"''portions of the building are so happily blended, as to 
air of nnyesty and grandeur, •vidiich the most 
fijri spectator cannot behold without emotion. To 
"> 5 |. |dt'-'se beauties, it is not necessary to be a connoisseur 
k v| ''"tttiture ; tit ►, are indeed so exquisite that they may 
a'li "'d'd daily wltl' a fresh appetite for years togethei 
fenders them ilill more interesting is, that they are 
