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Rh 13k. IX. Ch. III. CIRCULAR OR DOMICAL BUILDINGS. 433 or ought to be immense. It is equally important to the archaeologist as being the earliest imj^ortant church of its class erected wholly for Christian purposes ; while it is of even more value to the architect from being one of the most beautiful buildings in the whole world. In dimensions it is surpassed by many, being an octagon of only 160 ft. diameter ; and in solidity it is not to be compared with those wholly constructed of stone ; but in richness of material there are few that can be compared with it. Its ]»illars are of marbles of the most precious kinds, and either belonged to the Temple of Hei-od or to that erected by Hadrian in honor of Jupiter on the same spot.^ Its Mosaics are complete, though very much altered in design by its present possessors, Avho have added painted glass in the windows, of patterns more beautiful and colors more ex- quisite than any to be found in our Northern cathedrals. The design of this church is also singularly appropriate to the purposes for which it was erected. The emperor's orders were, " That a House of Prayer should be erected round the Saviour's tomb on a scale of rich and lavish magnificence, which may surpass all others in beauty; and that the details of the building be such that the finest structure in any city of my empire may be excelled by this."^ No orders were ever more literally or more successfully obeyed. The details still retain much ^ Order of the Dome of the Rock. (From a Drawing by Aruiidale.) 1 It is difficult to suppose that such precious marbles lay about unappropri- ated till the end of the 7th century, long after the time when both Constantine and Justinian had been so busy erecting VOL. II. — 28 churches and other buildinsrs in the Holy City. 2 Eusebius, " Vita Constantini," lib. iii. ch. XXV.