386 THE HOLY LAND. 
CHAP, that we did not hesitate in considering it as the 
most magnificent example of modern archi- 
tecture in the Turkish empire; and, externally, 
superior to the Mosque of Saint Sophia in Con- 
stantinople. By the sides of the spacious area in 
which it stands, are certain vaulted remains, 
which plainly denote the masonry of the 
Antients; and evidence may be adduced to 
prove that they belonged to the foundations of 
Solomon's Temple. We observed also that 
reticulated stucco, which is commonly considered 
as an evidence of Roman work. This extra- 
ordinary appearance of the opus reticulatum\ 
being irreconcileable with Jeivish masonry, may 
lead to a very curious if not important inference 
concerning these foundations. The author was 
at first inclined to believe, with Phocas and with 
Golius'^, that they are the remains of the Temple 
of Solomon, as it was restored by Herod a fexV 
years before the Christian aera'. Judcea, it is 
true, was then a Roman province ; but it does, 
not necessarily follow, either that Roman work- 
men were employed*, or that the Roman taste 
(l) See fVinkelmann Hist, de VArt, torn. II. p. 561. Par. An. 2, 
(■2) See p. 392, of this Volume. 
(3) JosepliUSy lib. xv. Antiq. c. 14. Colon. 1691. 
f4) Indeed the text of Josephus seems to prove the contrary ; for he 
states, that the Jewish priests were employed to superintend the plan 
of the work, and the labours of the artificers. Fid. lib, xv. de Antiq. ibid. 
