chap. XL] OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 265 with marble and gold ; and their various situation was skilfully chosen in a populous square or a pleasant grove, on the margin of the sea-shore or on some lofty eminence which overlooked the continents of Europe and Asia. The church of the Holy Apostles at Constantinople and that of St. John at Ephesus appear to have been framed on the same model : their domes aspired to imitate the cupolas of St. Sophia ; but the altar was more judiciously placed under the centre of the dome, at the junction of four stately porticoes, which more accurately ex- pressed the figure of the Greek cross. The Virgin of Jerusalem might exult in the temple erected by her Imperial votary on a most ungrateful spot, which afforded neither ground nor materials to the architect. A level was formed, by raising part of a deep valley to the height of the mountain. The stones of a neighbouring quarry were hewn into regular forms ; each block was fixed on a peculiar carriage drawn by forty of the strongest oxen ; and the roads were widened for the passage of such enormous weights. Lebanon furnished her loftiest cedars for the timbers of the church ; and the seasonable discovery of a vein of red marble supplied its beautiful columns, two of which, the supporters of the exterior portico, were esteemed the largest in the world. The pious munificence of the emperor was diffused over the Holy Land ; and, if reason should condemn the monasteries of both sexes which were built or restored by Justinian, yet charity must applaud the wells which he sunk, and the hospitals which he founded, for the relief of the weary pilgrims. The schismatical temper of Egypt was ill-entitled to the royal bounty ; but in Syria and Africa some remedies were applied to the disasters of wars and earthquakes, and both Carthage and Antioch, emerging from their ruins, might revere the name of their gracious benefactor. 107 Almost every saint in the calendar acquired the honours of a temple ; almost every city of the empire obtained the solid advantages of bridges, hospitals, and aqueducts ; but the severe liberality of the mon- arch disdained to indulge his subjects in the popular luxury of baths and theatres. While Justinian laboured for the public service, he was not unmindful of his own dignity and ease. The Byzantine palace, which had been damaged by the confla- 107 Justinian onee gave forty-five centenaries of gold (180,0001.) for the repairs of Antioch after the earthquake (John Malala, torn. ii. p. 146-149 [p. 422 sqq.~).
