460 THESSALONICA. 
bestowed upon it, if we judge even from its 
present state. It consisted originally of three 
arches, built of brick, and cased with marble ; 
and there were niches in the front between the 
arches, which of course were filled with statues. 
The piers all round were adorned with three 
compartments of basso-relievos, one above an- 
other, each relief being four feet two inches 
deep, divided by others that were twelve inches 
deep, covered with foliage and flowers. The 
author went twice to visit it ; once upon this 
occasion, and afterwards upon leaving Salontca. 
It is situate in a very crowded part of the city, 
which made his stay dangerous, and would 
have rendered its examination at any time diffi- 
cult ; but he was convinced, from the view of 
it, that the work is not older than the time of 
Constantine. The sculpture is evidently that of 
a period when the arts were in their decline ; 
and in some parts of it, inferior to what we 
often see in our country churches. But as to 
the objection, so particularly levelled against 
Pococke, who admired the work, of a want of 
perspective in the sculpture', this is altogether 
nugatory; and with regard to the sweeping 
assertion, that perspective was strictly attended 
^(l) Tableau du Commerce, &c. torn. I. p. 35. Patis, 1800. 
