Page:Travels & discoveries in the Levant (1865) Vol. 1.djvu/191

Rh Rhodes. The outside has no architectural feature. Its plan is a rectangular basilica, containing a nave and two aisles, with a clock-tower, the upper part of which was destroyed in the siege. The interior dimensions are 150 feet in length by 52 feet in breadth. The columns dividing the aisles from the nave are chiefly of granite, and are probably taken from several ancient buildings. The roof is of wood, the beams and ceiling blue, spangled with golden stars. In the pavement .of the nave are the remains of the tomb of the Grand Master Fabrizio del Carretto. His effigy, which must have been sculpted in low relief on a flat slab, has been destroyed, but the border of the slab still remains, with an inscription at the foot, recording his name, titles, and services, and with the date 1520. At the head of the slab was his escutcheon. Carretto was the last Grand Master bm'ied at Rhodes. In the pavement the German traveller Ross saw a number of other sepulchral slabs with figures of knights in relief dressed in the long robe of the Order, but too much defoced to be identified. He also found here a Greek inscription containing a list of contributions to some public sub- scription.$68$ In the windows was formerly stained glass, with escutcheons of the Knights, several of which were copied by Rottier. On either side of the choir Ross remarked some carved woodwork painted and gilt, with niches containing smaU images of the Apostles.$69$

Opposite to the church of St. John is the entrance to the palace of the Grand blaster through a gateway flanked by two towers facing the south.