Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/345

Rh buildings have been largely used in their construction, and in many places precious fragments of old marbles occupy the position of humble masonry. The original palace of the Order at present only exists in shell, and it would be very difficult to trace its internal construction. The ceilings have fallen in, the pavements are torn up, the partition walls thrown down; but patches of fresco still remain, from which can be guessed some of the subjects which adorned the walls. The chisel contributed as well as the brush to the severe type of ornamentation which accords faithfully with the ideas of those times. Mouldings of a sober elegance surrounded the escutcheons of the Order and of D’Amboise which are still existing. Over the mantlepiece of a fireplace, of which the ample dimensions mark the great dining hail, may be seen the fleur de lys of France.”

Connected with the palace are the ruins of a chapel dedicated to St. John. This building consisted of three naves terminating with an apse, the length eighty feet and the width fifty feet. The population of Lindos in the time of the knights amounted to 2,500 souls, which number is now reduced to 650.

The village of Castellos, on the western side of the island, took its name from the fortress erected there by the knights as a look-out station. It is now in a state of ruin; still, enough remains to trace its construction. The castle is square; on one side it is flanked with two round and on the opposite angle by one square tower. On the wall at the eastern side are the arms of D’Amboise and of Carretto side by side. The angle between the east and south has been out away for flanking purposes, and on the plane thus formed stand the arms of Carretto alone. Those of the Order on two escutcheons appear on an internal wall. The work was on two levels, and from the upper tower a view was obtained over a wide extent of sea. It was so constructed as to be capable of a lengthened defence, and was quite secure against a coup de main.

The village of Cremasti is so called from having been the summer residence of the Grand-Masters, the corruption of the Turkish name from Grand-Maistrie being evident. The palace was erected by Carretto, whose arms appear in several directions. It was square in form and not intended to resist any serious attack. In addition to these posts there