74 CONSTANTINOPLE. 
CHAP. Obelisk, is that o^ Sultan Achmed; and the more 
11. 
^^ y ■' distant one, that of St. Sophia. Not a single 
object has been either added or removed, to 
interfere with the fideUty of the dehneation : 
every thing is represented exactly as it appeared 
to us at the time; although we were under 
some apprehension from the Turks, who will 
suffer nothing of this kind to be made with 
their consent. 
Obelisk. A representation of the Hippodrome is given in 
bas-relief upon the base of the Obelisk : by this it 
appears, that there were originally two obelisks, 
one at either extremity of the course. That 
which remains is about fifty feet in height, 
according to Tournefort^ : it is of one entire 
block of Egyptian granite. The manner in 
which this immense mass was raised, and placed 
upon its pedestal, by the Emperor Theodosius, 
is represented also, in a series of bas-reliefs 
upon its base. The workmen appear employed 
with a number of windlasses, all brought, by 
means of ropes and pulleys, to act at once upon 
the stoned 
(1) Tournefortf lett. 12. According to Bondelmord, its heis^ht is 
fifty-eight feet; and this nearly coincides with the statement of 
Mr. Dallaway, who makes it equal to sixty. See Dull. Constant, p. 67. 
(2) See the engraving in JVhelcr's Travels, [Book ii. p. 183. Land. 
1G82.) which gives a faithful representation of these has-reliefs. 
