454 THESSALONICA. 
0YNA02KAIKAZANAP 
AOYTOYAEYKIOYEAYTO 
AnrnAEYKIOYKAGIlZA 
and these numerals upon a tomb, without any 
other legible characters : 
ETOYZ— RqS P 
Situation 
oftheii^';) 
In the space between this Rotunda and the sea, 
podrome. ^^g giuiatc the Hippodrome ; a magnificent area, 
in form of an ellipse, surrounded by an immense 
Coilon, whose major axis, from north to south, 
equalled five hundred and twenty yards in 
extent, and its minor axis one hundred and 
sixty. To the west of it was the palace of 
Diocletian, supported by arches ; the vestiges 
are still visible. The mention of this Hippo- 
drome may call to mind the massacre that once 
inundated its area with human blood : it was 
here that Theodosius, the Roman emperor, who 
is extolled by antient writers as a sovereign 
blessed with every virtue, principally wreaked 
his vengeance on the inhabitants of Thessalonica, 
for the death of one of his officers; having 
caused six thousand innocent persons, with- 
out distinction of age or sex, to be cruelly 
butchered within the space of three hours ; for 
which Ambrose afterwards prevailed upon him 
to do public penance in the church. 
