Page:The age of Justinian and Theodora (Volume 2).djvu/144

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double ring of covered docks was thus constituted, the space between each pair of adjacent columns being adapted for giving shelter to a single vessel.^[1] The palace of the Praefect in charge of the navigating interests rose from an elevated spot in the centre of the island, and was used as a post of observation from whence he could survey the activities of the port.^[2] From the northern extremity of the line of quays a stairway of great width and proportions, bounded and divided by ornamental balustrades, ascended by more than a hundred steps, and formed a grand approach to the city proper, which was built on ground somewhat raised above the sea level.^[3] A broad marble-paved terrace, from which the inhabitants could overlook the quay and the water, formed the marine limit of the city at this higher altitude.^[4] It was called the New Plaza.^[5] Roman Carthage was adorned

↑ See Appian's description of the Punic harbours, the Cothon, etc.; viii, 96. The entrance at this time was probably that artificially excavated by the Carthaginians after Scipio had blocked that in previous use. The harbour was most likely restored by the Romans to very much its former state. Rambaud has adopted this view in his archaeological restoration of Carthage (c. 690), which he put into novelistic form; L'Empereur de Carthage, Paris, 1904. Dureau de la Malle argues from texts that Carthage was not "rased to the ground," as the formal expression is, but merely dismantled; Topog. de Carthage, Paris, 1835, p. 103, et seq. Certain ponds now in existence seem to represent the inland ports, but an opposition view has been taken; C. Torr, Classical Rev., 1891.
↑ The island apparently is still there, but no remains of buildings have been uncovered so far. For what has been done see Babelon, op. cit.
↑ Some ruins still remain and sufficient of the structure to present an imposing appearance existed well into the last century. Being quarried for later purposes, the relic has gradually lost its distinctive form; see Beulé, Fouilles à Carthage, Paris, 1861, p. 29.
↑ Victor Vit., De Persec. Vand., ii, 5 (written c. 487, and proves the existence of the stairway, etc., in the fifth century).
↑ Ibid., Platea Nova.

[1] See Appian's description of the Punic harbours, the Cothon, etc.; viii, 96. The entrance at this time was probably that artificially excavated by the Carthaginians after Scipio had blocked that in previous use. The harbour was most likely restored by the Romans to very much its former state. Rambaud has adopted this view in his archaeological restoration of Carthage (c. 690), which he put into novelistic form; L'Empereur de Carthage, Paris, 1904. Dureau de la Malle argues from texts that Carthage was not "rased to the ground," as the formal expression is, but merely dismantled; Topog. de Carthage, Paris, 1835, p. 103, et seq. Certain ponds now in existence seem to represent the inland ports, but an opposition view has been taken; C. Torr, Classical Rev., 1891.

[2] The island apparently is still there, but no remains of buildings have been uncovered so far. For what has been done see Babelon, op. cit.

[3] Some ruins still remain and sufficient of the structure to present an imposing appearance existed well into the last century. Being quarried for later purposes, the relic has gradually lost its distinctive form; see Beulé, Fouilles à Carthage, Paris, 1861, p. 29.

[4] Victor Vit., De Persec. Vand., ii, 5 (written c. 487, and proves the existence of the stairway, etc., in the fifth century).

[5] Ibid., Platea Nova.

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