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ANTIQUITIES. 
architecture is very inferior to that of the 
classical period, yet by those who have wit- 
nessed it, we are told the effect is grand 
and impressive, and the cupola is admired 
as a bold and skilful effort of the art, while 
the seeming weight is diminished by the 
lightness of the materials, being bricks 
formed of a particular clay that will float 
in the water. The interior is adorned with 
columns of various and very beautiful de- 
scriptions,^. the Phrygian purple, the Spar- 
tan green, the red and white Canan, and 
many others. To this may be added, that 
the French have recently discovered the 
remains of an ancient sea-port belonging 
to Sparta, near a promontory, which 
projects from the south of the Morea, and 
we are informed that the antiquities of that 
part now styled Albania, still present an 
extensive field of research to the student in 
this department of science 
Nothing ” says Dr. Adams, in the pre- 
face to his Roman Antiquities, “ has more 
engaged the attention of literary men than 
to trace from ancient monuments the insti- 
tutions and laws, the religion, the manners 
and customs of the Romans, under the 
general name of Roman Antiquities. This 
branch of knowledge,” continues he, “ is 
not only curious in itself, but absolutely 
necessary for the understanding the classics, 
and for reading with advantage the history 
of that celebrated people. It is particularly 
necessary for such as prosecute the study of 
the civil law. Scarcely on any subject have 
more books been written, and many of them 
by persons of distinguished abilities.” We 
may, as a guide to the student, enumerate 
the writers from whom Dr. Adams chiefly 
compiled his own work, as these will be the 
best authorities for those persons who would 
enter deeply into the study. To Manutius, 
Brissonius, and Middleton, he w r as indebted 
for his facts relating to the business of the 
senate : to Pignorius, on slaves : to Lidonius 
and Grucchius, Manutius, Huber, Gravina, 
Merula, Heineccius, for what relates to the 
assemblies of the people, the rights of 
citizens, the laws and judicial proceedings : 
with respect to the duties and privileges of 
magistrates, the art of war, the shows of the 
circus, and the feats of gladiators, he had 
recourse to Lipsius : — to Sheffer he applied 
for information on naval affairs, and car- 
riages : to Kermannus, on funerals : to Ar- 
buthnot, on coins : to Donatus, on the city : 
to Tnrnebus, Salmasius, Grsevius, Grono- 
vius, Montfaucon, Gesner, and others, upon 
different subjects scattered through his 
VOL. I. 
work. To these may be added one of the 
oldest authors on the subject, viz. Dionysius 
Halicarnasseus, who traced the origin of the 
Romans, with great fidelity, back to the 
remotest ages. His accounts are gene- 
rally preferred to those of Livy, because 
they are more ample, and his facts are 
described with more particulars ; and on 
the ceremonies, worship, sacrifices, man- 
ners, customs, discipline, policy, courts, 
laws, &e. he is perhaps the most authentic 
writer. 
These, and other authors that might be 
cited, have chiefly confined their account 
to Rome, properly so called, we might di- 
gress, and notice the antiquities of those 
states, both in Europe and other parts of 
the globe, which were held under the domi- 
nion of the Roman power ; but this would 
lead us into a very wide field : we shall, 
however, ia the connection notice those 
belonging to Spain, which was 500 years 
under the Roman power. 
Spain was originally peopled by the Afri- 
cans and German Gauis : it then became 
the prey of the Carthaginians : to these 
succeeded the Romans. It was afterwards 
held successively in subjection by the Van- 
dals, the Visigoths, and the Arabs or Moors. 
Of the first of these epochs few remains 
exist, excepting some tumuli, and other 
rude monuments. Nor are there any cer- 
tain relics of the Carthaginians in Spain 
but coins, which have been found in consi- 
derable numbers. The Roman antiquities 
are numerous, of which, however, we shall 
notice but few. The aqueduct at Segovia 
is a noble edifice, consisting of 159 arches, 
extending about 740 yards, and is rather 
more than 94 feet in height where it crosses 
the valley. Morviedo, the ancient Sagun- 
tum, and Tarragona, the ancient Tarraco, 
afford many curious remains of' antiquity. 
The theatre is capable of receiving 10,000 
people, and is hewn out of a solid rock, the 
labour of which was less than might at first 
be expected, as the Spanish rocks are ge- 
nerally calcareous, or of gypsum. The Visi- 
goth kings have left few relics except their 
coins, which are struck in gold, a metal at 
that period unknown to the other European 
mints. Numerous and splendid are the mo- 
numents of the Moors in Spain. The mosque 
at Cordova is one of the chief; this sur- 
prizes travellers with the multitude of its 
columns, which are said to be 800. The 
Christian antiquities here, as in other places, 
are churches, castles, and monasteries. 
The antiquities of Portugal consist als» 
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