THESSALONICA. 459 
and upon one side there is an inscription, con- 
taining the names of all the magistrates then in 
office. The arch is on the western side of the 
town. It originally terminated a street that 
ran through the whole of the antient city from 
east to tvest. At the eastern extremity is the 
Arch of Constaxtine, before what was called Arch of 
the Gate of Cassander ; so that this superb street tine. 
was terminated at either extremity by a tri- 
umphal arch. That of Constantine yet remains 
entire, as to every thing but its marble cover- 
ing; which has been in great measure removed. 
Its original height was about sixty feet ; but 
now, owing to the accumulation of the soil, it is 
not much more than forty. The span of the 
main arch is about thirty feet. Upon the south 
side is a bas-relief, representing the triumph of 
Constantine, who appears in the act of ad- 
dressing his troops. Pococke believed this arch 
to be of the age of the ylntordnes. The brick- 
work about it is perhaps proof to the contrary ; 
and of this the piers entirely consist. It was 
certainly a most costly and magnificent monu- 
ment, whatever opinion may prevail as to the 
taste of the workmanship. There is no instance 
known of a triumphal arch that was more richly 
adorned with sculpture. It is quite marvellous 
to consider the labour that must have been 
