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| [ Untitled ] 18 x 16 cms. Plates 199,200 and 201.In text copper engraving with further text on verso. ".......... the cloister appearing in this manner from hence it is easily to be imagined that it must need to be a very fine building. At a distance is seen the borough of Sternia ( Kyrenia) and near it on the sea side a fine castle after the Antick manner, and behind it some hills. Afterwards I came to the Monastery about noon. The entrance gate is extraordinary high, being of the height of eight men and nine spans thick. It is made after the manner of a castle and the greatest part yet still standing. Having passed through this gate, and advanced about 20 paces on the left hand we came another gate, represented in plate 199. In the Cornish above this gate there are three different coats of arms, carved in marble, as they are here represented. On the right hand of this gate, we ascended a staircase of 29 steps, but I found it most of it laid in ruins. Descending again afterwards you turn to the left side where there were formerly some apartments, after this we passed through a great square where there are some trees, and 28 paces from thence you meet with a building composed of four great portico's , on the left hand of which there is a fair square apartment, but is present uncovered at the top. From thence you go again through an apartment by which you enter into the monastery, which appears square, and extraordinary fine, and lofty, because it is as fair and entire as was but new built. Between the first two pillars, that are at the entrance of the garden, there is a very fine water vessel of marble. It has the form of a stone tomb, and round about it there is a festoon, which is held up on both sides by a young child, who supports it with both his hands. One of these children is a little defaced, and the other has no head Round about it there are six lion's heads and at each corner which are four in all, there is a calves head, all in bas relief and pretty well done. This stone is represented as plate 200, and the place where it stands is 112 foot long and 48 foot broad. .......this apartment is 32 foot wide and 66 foot long, and it has been so well preserved, that that one would be apt to think it had not been built above five or six years ago. Going from thence through a gate you come into another of the same form. Without this gate as the Monastery there is yet another gate through which having passed a small court you go into the Church. There is a very fine portal before it, the wall thereof are adorned on all sides with Mosaick Work , but defaced that one cannot tell what to make of it. I found also a great stone in the wall on which some letters were engraved as may bee seen in plate 201. There are of such different figures that one cannot find any propriety of words or sense in them....." Price: CyP 100 |