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[413]
There were also a great number of arches, where the mariners dwelt;
and all the places before them round about was a large valley, or walk,
for a quay [or landing-place] to those that came on shore; but the entrance
was on the north, because the north wind was there the most gentle of all
the winds. At the mouth of the haven were on each side three great Colossi,
supported by pillars, where those Colossi that are on your left hand as
you sail into the port are supported by a solid tower; but those on the
right hand are supported by two upright stones joined together, which stones
were larger than that tower which was on the other side of the entrance.
Now there were continual edifices joined to the haven, which were also
themselves of white stone; and to this haven did the narrow streets of
the city lead, and were built at equal distances one from another. And
over against the mouth of the haven, upon an elevation, there was a temple
for Caesar, which was excellent both in beauty and largeness; and therein
was a Colossus of Caesar, not less than that of Jupiter Olympius, which
it was made to resemble. The other Colossus of Rome was equal to that of
Juno at Argos. So he dedicated the city to the province, and the haven
to the sailors there; but the honor of the building he ascribed to Caesar,
1 and
named it Cesarea accordingly.
1 These buildings of cities by the name of Caesar, and institution of solemn games in honor of Augustus Caesar, as here, and in the Antiquities, related of Herod by Josephus, the Roman historians attest to, as things then frequent in the provinces of that empire, as Dean Aldrich observes on this chapter.
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