they art n along all the approaches to the place,
which, in the days of its prosperity, were perhaps the suburbs of the overpeopled valley. Some of the most peculiar are found in the valley above the entrance of the Sik. Were these excavations, instead of follow- ing all the sinuosities of the mountain and its numer- ous gorges, ranged in regular order, they probably would form a street not less than live or six miles in length. They are often seen rising one above another in the face of the cliff, and convenient steps, now much worn, cut in the rock, lead in all directions through the fissures and along the sides of the mountains, to the various tombs that occupy these lofty positions. Sum- of them are apparently not less than from two hundred to three or four hundred feet above the level of the valley. Conspicuous situations, visible, from be- low, were generally chosen ; hut sometimes the oppo- site t ISte prevailed, and the most secluded cliffs, front- ing toward- some dark ravine, and quite hidden from the gaz ■ of the multitude, were preferred. The Mights of steps, all cut in the solid rock, are almost innumer- able, and they ascend to great heights, as well as in all directions. Sometimes the connection with the city is interrupted, ami one sees in a gorge, or upon the face of a (lit)', fifty or a hundred feet above him, a long > iries of steps rising from the edge of an inacces- sible precipice. The action of winter torrents ami other agencies have worn the easy ascent into a chan- nel f,,r the waters, ami thus interrupted the communi- cation.
I be situations of these excavations are not more various I b ID their forms and dimensions. Mere niches are sometimes cut in the face of the rock, of little depth and of various Bizes and forms, of which it is difficult to conjecture the object, unless they had some connec- tion with votive offerings and religious rites. Bj far the largest number of excavations were manifestly de- signed as places for the interment of the dead; and thus exhibit a variety in form and size, of interior ar- rangement and external decoration-, adapted to the different fortunes of their occupants, and conformable to the prevailing tastes of the times in which they ide. There are many tombs consisting of a
aingle chamber, ten, fifteen, or twenty feet square by
ten or twelve in height, containing a n ss in the wail
large enough to receive on a few deposits; some- times on ;, level with the floor, at other- one of two feet above it, and not unficpiently near the ceiling, at the height of eight or ten feet. Occasionally, as
above menti td, oblong pit- or graves are sunk in
tl es, or in the floor of the primip ,l apartment.
44
PETRA
Some ,,f these are of considerable depth, but they are mostly choked with sloiies and rubbish, so that it is impossible to ascertain it. In these plebeian tombs there is commonly a door of small dimensions, and an absence of all architectural decorations; in some of larger dimensions there are several recesses occupy- ing two or three sides of the apartment. These seem to have been formed for family tombs. Besides these unadorned habitations of the humble dead, there i- a vast number of excavations enriched with various ar- chitectural ornaments. To these unique and sumptu- ; ous monuments of the taste of one of the most ancient races of men with w hom history has made us acquaint- ed, l'etra is indebted for it- great and peculiar attrac- tions. Tins ornamental architecture is whollj confined to the front, while the interior is quite plain and des- titute of all decoration. Pass the threshold, and noth- ing is seen but perpendicular walls, bearing the marks of the chisel, w ithout mouldings, column-, i r any .-pe- des of ornament. But the exteriors of these primitive and even rude apartments exhibit some of the most beautiful ami imposing results of ancient taste and skill which have remained to our times. The front of the mountain is wrought into facades of splendid temples, rivalling in their aspect and symmetry the most celebrated monument- of Grecian art. Columns of various orders, graceful pediments, broad, rich en- tablatures, and Bometimes statuary, all hewn out of the solid rock, and still forming part of the native mass, transform the base of the mountain into a \ ast splendid pile of architecture, while the overhanging (dill'-, towering above in shapes as rugged and wild as any on which the eye ever rested, form the most strik- ing and curious of contrasts. In most instances it is impossible to assign these beautiful facades to any particular style of architecture. Many of the columns resemble those of the Corinthian order; but tiny de- viate so far, both in their forms and ornament-, from this elegant model, that it would he impossible to rank them in the class. A few are Doric, which are pre- cisely those that have suffered most from the ravages of time, aiel are probably very ancient.
But nothing contributes so much to the almost mag- ical effect of Some of these monument- a- the rich and
various colors of the rock out of which, or more prop- erly in which, they are formed. The mountains that encompass the vale of l'etra are of sand- tone, of which red is the predominant hue. Their surface i- a good deal burned and faded by the (dements, and is of a dull brick color, and most of the -aud.-tone formation- in this vicinity, a- well as a number of the excavations of Petra, exhibit nothing remarkable in their coloring which does not belong to the Bame Bpecies of rock throughout a considerable region of Arabia Petrasa. Many of them, however, are adorned with such a pro- fusion of the most lovely and brilliant colors as it i- Bcarcely possible to describe. Red, purple, yellow,