CONSTANTINOPLE. 1 69 
three hundred and thirty -six Corinthian columns chap. 
IV 
of marble^ each column being forty feet nine 
inches in height, can so entirely have disappeared 
as to leave only, what Le Chevalier styles', 
its "■ emplacement.'' Besides, he has mistaken 
altogether its relative position respecting St. 
Sophia; for this is described by Gyllius as 
westward of that edifice, at the distance only 
of eighty Roman paces from it ; which rather 
identifies it with the magnificent reservoir we 
visited. The words of Gyllius* are in substance 
as follows : " The Imperial Portico, and the 
Imperial Cisterna, stood in the same place : 
4Jie Imperial Portico is not to be seen, though 
the Cisterna is still remaining. Through 
the carelessness and contempt of every thing 
that is curious in the inhabitants, it was never 
discovered, but by me, who was a stranger 
among them, after a long and diligent search. 
The whole ground was built upon, which 
made it the less to be suspected that there 
was a Cisterna upon the spot: the people not 
having the least suspicion of it ; although 
(3) Voyage de la Pro/Jon/We et du Panf J?wxin, par J. B. OievuUer, 
p. 106. Paris, 1800. 
(4) Vide Gyllium, lib. ii. De Titpog. Camtant. cap. SO. 
