‘The perillous and most unhappy voyages of John Struys, through Italy, Greece, Lifeland, Moscovia, Tartary, Media, Persia, East-India, Japan, and other places in Europe, Africa and Asia. Containing, I. Most accurate remarks and observations of the distinct qualities, religion, politie, customs, laws and properties of the inhabitants: II. A due description of the several cities, towns, forts and places of trust, as to their site and strength, fortifications by nature, or art, &c. with other things worthy of note: and III. An exact memorial of the most disastrous calamities which befell the author in those parts (viz) by ship-wrack, robberies, slavery, hunger, tortures, with other incommodities and hardships’ [‎334] (403/470)

334 The Voyages of IdhaStruys. , V oy .III.
fornierly the Romm Emperours were went to have: under his Robe
he had a V e il are full of Foldings which were very foft and fdk-like,
the ileeves were very loofely cut and wide, hanging down like a Sur
plice , [or as thofe of a Batchlor of Art in In one hand he
had a Mond ,and in the other a Staff or Scepter. T he fay that
it is the Statue of Solomon King of the but I rather take it to
be Lsflexxncier the Great , becaufe of the Mond, who was the firll
Monarch (^according to Hiilory} that was fo painted , as fuppofing
himfelf to have conquered the whole World, and for fom time had
his Refidence in this Palace. Befides this were oil each fide fevcral
others which feemed to be of lefs degree and meaner Perfonages, as
well by the Places where they flood as by the Habit, being clad in
ihorter Robes and narrow Veftureswith fleevs clofe at the wnil,
like the Pefantry about Derbent. Som of thefe had long old-faftuon'd
Spears, others led Horfes and Mules, and others brought oxen and
Sheep with Mallets, Hatchets, Knives and other Implements for
Slaughter as if they werea going to Offer. In this fpacious Hall were
alfo many other Figures as Emblemes, which were too dark and ab-
ftrufe for me to unriddle. Leaving this Appartment we went into
another more wide and fpacious than the former. At one End was
another Statue clofe and (as I fuppofed} faft to the Walls, which
by the Crown, orrather Cap of State, feemed to befom Prince. He
was on his kne.es, and as it were, praying to the Sun, Fire and a Ser
pent. The Inhabitants told me that it was the Image of famjlhet , or
femfch* to whom, as I have already faid, the afcribe the
Founding. The nioft part of thofe Statues were gilded, and appear
fo yet. There were alfo feveral Battails admirably well don , and
had good Symmetry and Proportion according to the Diftance, Hol
ding and Perfpc6tive, all hewn out of black Marble and fet faft in
the Wall. When this illuftrious Pile has bin in it's glory , might not
only have bin xecounted among the Wonders ,ot the W orld, but for
it's admirable rare Works and ftupendious Strufture , well have
claim'd the Priority as Paramount, according to the appearance of
it's Ruins, which I found conformable to what is recorded of it in
Hiftory, for there appears the Foundation of a triple Wall; the lirft,
or outmoft was about 32 Foot high, having many Bulwarks and
Towers, which have bin as excellent for their Ornament as S trength