Together with this imperfect inscription are to be seen the defaced figure of a man on horseback, and another of a serpent twisted round a tree. This is by most adjudged to be a Christian ruin; and indeed if we consider its beauty and grandeur, as it can be no very modern building, so by reason of its misplaced carvings and inverted inscriptions it cannot be very antient; but may conveniently be refered to those times, in which Christianity began to flourish here. And after this there will be room to put in another conjecture, and to guess from the stateliness of the fabric, that it might be the place, where that famous general council of almost two hundred bishops condemned the heresy of _Nestorius_, in the year four hundred thirty one; tho his errors are still living among the Indians and Chaldeans, two sects which are numerous in the eastern parts of _Asia_[46]. Those other Christian monuments, which are commonly shewn at _Ephesus_, are merely fabulous; and serve only to cheat and abuse the curiosity of many travelers, who undergo no little pains and difficulty in coming hither. Such are the _cave of the seven sleepers_; the _font_, in which _St. John_ is said to have baptized so many primitive Christians; and a square watch tower, which ordinarily goes by the name of _St. Paul’s prison_. This last stands upon a small hill, about a mile nearer the sea, than was the _temple of Diana_; and is indeed worth visiting by those, who have not so much superstition or credulity; for its situation gives a commanding prospect over the stream of the _Caýster_, which here seems to rival the _Maeander_, and plays with many wanton windings in the adjoining plain. The chief heathen antiquities, that are to be seen at _Ephesus_, are the remainder of the _old citadel_, and the foundation of the _temple of Diana_. The former of these is an intire gate, with two broken walls adjoining on each side, which being situated on a convenient ascent, towards the north east of the ancient city, most probably was a sort or citadel, that defended it on that quarter. This gatehouse has the marks of considerable antiquity, tho it has been rebuilt from other more antient ruins; as is evident from some misplaced stones, and broken reversed inscriptions, that occur in the work. Among these are viewed with great satisfaction three flat marble stones, curiously cut in _basso relievo_; which tho of different design, and unequal breadth, are placed in a line to adorn the arch of the gate. The first of these marbles (reckoning from the left hand as we front the gate) has been somewhat injured by time; but from the portraiture of grapes and baskets, and four or five figures in gay and youthful postures, it may be presumed to represent a _Bacchanal_.