HISTORY OF

ARCHITECTURE. Book L
count, we have 111/(7. H^. given the sketch of a circular temple standing near the above.
Of Einesa, the otlier celebrated Coelo- Syrian city, not a vestige remains.
197. Of Tadmor, or Palmyra, denoting both in Syriac as well as Latin a multitude of
palm-trees, Solomon was said to have been the original founder. It lies considerably to
the east of Haalbec, and upwards of 200 miles from the nearest coast of Syria. Situate
between the Roman and Parthian monarchies, it was suffered to observe a humble neu-
trality until after the victories of Trajan; when, sinking into the bosom of Rome, it
flourished more than 150 years in the subordinate though humble rank of a colony.
"
It
vas during that peaceful period," observes Gibbon,
"
if we may judge from a few remain-
ing inscriptions, that the wealthy P.almyrenians constructed those temples, palaces, and
porticoes, whose ruins, scattered over an extent of several miles, liave deserved the curiosity
of our travellers." The ruins of it were discovered by some English travellers towards
the end of the 17th century, and were more lately visited by the INIessrs. Dawkins and
Wood, already mentioned. The power of Zenobia, who wislied to shake off the sub-
jection to Rome, was insufficient to withstand the forces of Aurelian, and Palmyra
fell into his hands about the year 237. A slis-ht sketch of the ruins
{fig.
114.) is here
given. The style of architecture
is almost the same as that of Haal

bee
;
and, like that, so vitiated in
ilmost every profile, that we do
not think it necessary longer to
dwell upon it, although great the
extent of its ruins. In the same
wiy, we must pass over those of
U|erash, which were visited by Mr.
Rirry, and of other considerable
cities, though some are said to con-
t un examples in a better and purer
Fig. 114. RurNS oy PALMVBA. style.
1 98. The reign of Dioclesian was extended, and was illustrious from his military exploits.
It was also remarkable for the wisdom he displayed in dividing witli others the discharge
of duties he could not himself perform
;
as well as, finally, by iiis abdication and retirement
to Spalatro. Architecture was, however, too far sunk for him to raise it ; and, though mo-
numents of great grandeur were reared by him in Rome and his native town of Salona, they
were degenerated by innovation and a profusion of ornaments which sometimes proved dis-
astrous to those beneath, upon whom they occasionally fell, but the taste for wliich, among the
Romans, had increased by their intercourse with the East. At a ])eriod when no sculptor
existed in Rome, this monarch raised the celebrated baths there which bear his name. His
palace at Spalatro
(_/?_Q'.
1
15. ) covered between nine and ten English acres. Its form was quad-
rangular, flanked with sixteen towers. Two of the sides were 600 ft., and the other 700 ft.
in length. It was constructed of stone little inferior to marble. Four streets, intersecting
each other at right angles, divided the several parts of the edifice; and the apjiroacli to the
principal apartment was from a stately entrance, still called tlie golden gate. Hy compar-
ing the present remains with the Treatise by Vitruvius, tliere appears a coinciilence in the
practice here with the precepts of that author. The building consisted of only one story,
and the rooms were lighted from above. Towards the south-west was a portico ujjwards
of 500 ft. long, ornamented with painting and sculpture. We do not think it necessary to
follow up further the decay of the arts in the West; it is sufficient to add that the fifth
century witnessed the contemporaneous fall of them and of Rome itself.
1 99. Towards the year 330, the seat of the Roman empire was removed to Constantino))le,
where the reign of Constantine, though brilliant, was unsuccessful in restoring the arts,
upon which religious as well as political causes had begun to act. The establishment of
Christianity had less effect on architecture than on her sister arts. The new species of
worship could be performed as well in the old as in temples of a new form, or the old
columns miglit be employed in new edifices, in which, indeed, they were eminently ser-
viceable
;
but statues of the gods were no longer wanted, and the sculptor's art was aban-
doned. The removal, however, of the government to the Bosphorus retarded the decline
of tlie empire in the East. Byzantium, on whose foundations was placed the city of Con-
stantinople, owed its origin to a colony of Megarians
; and little was it to be imagined that
its disasters would have closed in so glorious a termination as occurred to it. The ancient
city still continued to possess some splendid productions of the schools of Asia Minor, whicli
it almost touched, and in common with which it enjoyed the arts. Constantine profited
by the circumstance, restored the monuments, and transported thither the best examples of
sculpture.
200. Architecture was called in by the emperor to aid him in affording
security, conveni-
ence, and pleasure to the inliabltants of the new metropolis. Vast walls surrounded the citv
;
superb porticoes, squares of every kind, a(picdufts, baths, tlieatres, hipjiodromcs, obelisks,