Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/268

242 sheltered from all but northerly winds. On the rock at the extremity of this neck of land stood the tower of St. Nicholas, the erection of which, by Zacosta, has already been mentioned. This tower, which was the first object that greeted the pilot on nearing the shores of Rhodes, was considered the most important point in the defences of the town, next to the Grand-Master’s palace, which was the citadel. Its position, surrounded almost entirely by the sea, rendered it difficult of attack at all times, and from sudden surprise or coup de main it was practically quite secure. The inner port was enclosed by two moles, running respectively in a northerly and easterly direction, so as to embrace within their shelter an expanse of water partaking somewhat of the geometric form of a sector. At the extremities of these moles stood the two towers of St. Michael and St. John (the one now called Arab’s tower, and the other Windmill tower). These two works, together with that of St. Nicholas, may be said to have constituted the principal strength of the place on its sea front.

It has been a matter of much dispute where the famous Colossus of Rhodes stood. Tradition has generally pointed to the two rocks on which stand the towers of St. Michael and St. John, affirming that the statue was reared with one foot on each of these points, and that vessels entering the harbour were enabled to pass in full sail between its legs. Newton’s opinion has already been quoted that the tower of St. Nicholas probably stands on the site of the old statue, and this opinion is shared by most persons best qualified to judge in the matter. If, as is very likely, the statue had been erected as a mark of guidance to vessels approaching the harbour, the rock of St. Nicholas would be the most natural and suitable site. The dimensions of the figure on that spot might well have raised it to the dignity of a wonder of the world without claiming for it a stride of fifty fathoms.

The land defences of the city consisted of a rampart and ditch, the former in some parts doubled by a species of fausse-braye. The terreplein was 40 feet wide, and the ditch varied in depth from 40 to 60 feet, and in width from 90 to 140 feet. This was sunk in the natural rock, which being a free-stone, easily worked, doubtless supplied the material for all the masonry of