'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎475] (562/905)

CHAP. XIX.]
THE PRINCIPAL TEMPLES.
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other by a third passage from north to south. The smaller Vaulted pas
has suffered much from time, but the larger is a complete sages '
tunnel of 17 feet wide by 30 feet high. The walls and the
semicircular arch resting upon them are of admirable work
manship, both being formed of large blocks of closely fitting
stones. There are recesses or apartments on each side ; and
galleries on the same level appear to have continued this sub
terranean communication towards the temples and to the
western side of the plateau.
The latter extends 283 feet westward of the court first The great
noticed, with a breadth of 118 feet, and it had on it a temple temple '
of elegant proportions. There are standing six Corinthian
columns, probably part of a splendid peristyle which ap
parently had 10 columns in front, and 19 on the sides.
Those which still remain are of exquisite proportions and
colossal dimensions, being 7 feet in diameter, and, with their
pedestals, 71 feet high; in adition to which, there was an en
tablature of 11 feet 9 inches, composed of two layers of cut
stone, which, together with a fine cornice, give a height of
nearly 80 feet. The shafts of these columns are formed of
three pieces beautifully fitted without cement, and strengthened
with iron cramps fixed into a socket in each stone.
A little way southward there is a smaller but more perfect ^youthem
temple. This structure is a parallelogram of 225 feet by 118 p
feet, having a peristyle of Corinthian columns, 45 feet high,
19 feet in circumference, 9 feet apart, and at an equal distance
from the wall. The columns were surmounted by a bold
cornice, 7 feet high, from which a fine stone ceiling, with
sculpture, representing a Ganymede and other figures, was
carried to the wall. Originally, each of the two longer sides
of the peristyle had 14 columns, and the shorter 8; but some
have fallen into the area below, whilst others have slipped
from their pedestals, and lean unbroken against the walls of
the temple. The entrance to the interior of the latter is at
the east end, through an exquisitely carved door-way, 26 feet
hiffh by 20 feet wide; having a staircase on each side leading
to the top of the building. The interior space, 118 feet long
by 65 feet wide, had niches on each side, and two screens, at
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