There is yet standing, in the Middle of the _Hippodrom_, a _Colossus_ made of square Stones, which was formerly (as an injudicious Author writes) incrusted with Marble; but, as appears by an Inscription carv’d upon its _Basis_, ’twas cover’d with Plates of Brass, cramp’d together with Iron, as appears not only by the Holes made in the Shaft, but by those which still remain in the _Base_; where the Iron Pins were fasten’d, and strengthen’d with melted Lead. ’Tis now despoil’d of its outward beauteous Appearance; and discovers only the Workmanship of its Inside, as having felt the Effects of the Avarice and Rapine of the _Barbarians_. This was also the Fate of the _Colossus_ at _Rhodes_, which was demolish’d by the _Hagarens_ in the Reign of _Constans_, Nephew of _Heraclius_, thirteen hundred Years after it was erected. ’Twas purchas’d afterwards by one _Emesenus_ a _Jew_, and the Brass, when strip’d off, was of so considerable a Weight, that it was carried off by Nine hundred Camels. Upon the _Base_ of the _Colossus_ at _Constantinople_, are inscrib’d the following Verses; _Fam’d_ Constantine, Romanus’ _Princely Son, (Who wore with Honour the Imperial Crown) This lofty Pile, by Time decay’d, repair’d; And join’d fresh Beauty to her Builder’s Art_. This _Colossus_ at the _Base_ of it, has three Steps. The lowest is two Foot high, the next a Foot and two Digits, and the uppermost of the same Height. The _Basis_ is a square Marble, seven Foot and three Digits high, each Side of which is ten Foot and nine Inches broad. This _Colossus_ is taller than the _Obelisk_. One Day, being the _Festival_ of the Circumcision of the Prince of _Boldania_, I saw an ingenious Fellow of a Mountebank climb to the Top of it, and come down safe. The same Attempt was immediately made by another, who made a Shift to reach the Top of it, but the Height so dazzled and confounded him, that, despairing of getting down without Hurt, he threw himself, with all his Might, as far as he could from the _Colossus_, to avoid the Danger of being dash’d to pieces upon the Foundation; so that falling down right upon his Feet, he stuck deep in the Earth, and dy’d upon the Spot. CHAP. XIII. _Of some other Columns in the_ Hippodrom.