With these Advantages of Freedom, Neutrality and Trade, for near two Centuries, 'tis not strange that it acquired the State and Wealth answerable to the Magnificence of these noble Structures. But when the _Romans_ under _Trajan_ had made it appear, that there was no comparison between the Puissance of the _Parthians_ and them, (_Trajan_ having taken _Babylon_ and _Ctesiphon_ the then Seat of the _Parthian_ Empire,) the _Palmyreni_ were at length determined to Declare for the _Romans_; which they did, by submitting themselves to the Emperor _Adrian_, about the Year of Christ 130, when _Adrian_ made his Progress through _Syria_ into _Egypt_. And that Magnificent Emperor being highly delighted with the native Strength and Situation of the Place, was pleased to adorn and rebuild it: When, as 'tis likely, he bestowed on it the Privileges of a Colony _Juris Italici_, which it enjoyed (as _Ulpian_ assures us.) And the Inhabitants of the City, in Gratitude, were willing to call themselves _Hadrianopolitæ_, ἐπικτισθείσης τῆς πόλεως ὑπὸ τοῦ Αὐτοκράτορος (says _Stephanus_.) Nor is it unlikely that many of those Marble Pillars were the Gift of that Emperor, and particularly those of the Long _Porticus_; for that none of the Inscriptions are before that Date. And it was usual for the _Cæsars_ to present Cities that had obliged them, with Marble Pillars to adorn their Publick Buildings. These here were not far to fetch, the Neighbouring Mountains affording _Marble-Quarries_: But the Magnitude of the _Porphyry_ Columns is indeed very remarkable, considering how far those vast Stones must have been brought by Land-carriage to this Place; it being not known that any other Quarries yield it, except those of _Egypt_, which lie about mid-way between _Cairo_ and _Siena_, between the _Nile_ and the _Red-Sea_: The Stone being very valuable for its Colour and Hardness, and so that it rises in Blocks of any magnitude required; _Quantislibet molibus cædendis sufficiunt Lapidicinæ_, (_Plin._ _lib._ 36.) And it is a great mistake of those who suppose it fictitious.