THESEUS (By Canoya), Volksgarten, Vienna, Austria.—In the centre of this pleasure ground stands the Temple of Theseus, containing Canova's fine marble group of the victory of Theseus over Centaur, originally destined by Napoleon I. for Milan. The figures are of heroic size. The victorious Theseus is represented as seated on the lifeless body of the monster, and the exhaustion that visibly pervades his whole frame, proves the terrible nature of the conflict in which he has been engaged.
SCHONBRUNN, Austria.—This sumptuous edifice, the summer palace of the Austrian Emperor, was completed by Maria Theresa in 1775. The building has a most imposing appearance. The gardens in the rear are open to the public. To the left of the principal avenue are the Roman ruins, the Obelisk and the "Schöne Brunnen" (beautiful fountain), from which the palace derives its name. Statues, vases and other objects of taste of the period are scattered about the ground. Extensive parks are attached to the palace.
GALATA BRIDGE, Constantinople, Turkey.—Along the north shore of the Golden Horn spreads the quarter known as Galata, rising up to the crest of the hill, and including the massive tower that crowns it. Beyond and above Galata, Pera stretches forward along the ridge that runs parallel with the shore. These places are connected with Constantinople by two bridges crossing the Golden Horn. One of these bridges is represented in the above picture. Unlike those of most other countries, people do not keep on the sidewalks, but wander along in any portion of the street. The scene on the Bridge of Galata affords an interesting subject for study.
MOSQUE OF ST. SOPHIA, Constantinople, Turkey.—This is the finest and most important ecclesiastical building of the city. The first stone of the building was laid in 532. No fewer than ten thousand workmen are said to have been engaged under the direction of one hundred master builders, and when the work was completed, it had cost the imperial treasury $5,000,000. The dome rises to the height of one hundred and eighty feet, and is one hundred and seven feet in diameter. To render it as light as possible, it was constructed of pumice stone and Rhodian bricks. Not long after its completion, the dome was shaken by an earthquake, but was immediately restored.
INTERIOR OF THE MOSQUE OF ST. SOPHIA, Constantinople, Turkey.—The whole interior of this noted structure is lined with costly marble. To add to its splendor, the temples of the ancient gods at Heliopolis and Ephesus, at Delos and Baalbec, at Athens and Cyzicus, were plundered of their columns. To secure the building from ravages of fire, no wood was employed in its construction except for the doors. The visitor cannot fail to be impressed by the bold span of the arches and the still bolder sweep of the dome, while his eye is at once bewildered and charmed by the rich, if not altogether harmonious, variety of decorations, from the many colored pillars down to the mosaics and inscriptions on the walls.
STREET SCENE, Constantinople, Turkey.—The American traveler upon entering this city is almost bewildered at the many novelties that confront him before he reaches his hotel. Nothing strikes him more forcibly than the awful silence that pervades so large a place. The only sound heard is an occasional cry of some vender, with a large wooden tray on his head, selling sweetmeats, sherbet, fruit or bread. Dogs at intervals disturb the pedestrian. Hundreds of them lie in the middle of the street, and only move when aroused by blows. At ten o'clock at night, the city is as silent as death.
MOSQUE OF SULTAN AHMED, Constantinople, Turkey.—Of all the mosques in the Ottoman Empire, this is the principal one. It is not as richly decorated as St. Sophia, but it is the only one that possesses six minarets. It is located on a square called the Hippodrome, named after the spot that was in former years used for circus purposes. The exterior view gives it a magnificent appearance. The place is one of the chief objects of interest in the city. The crumbling monument in the foreground is a relic of antiquity.
TURKISH LADY, Constantinople, Turkey.
STREET MERCHANTS, Constantinople, Turkey.
SULTAN'S HAREM, Constantinople, Turkey.—This photograph represents an odalisque, one of the beautiful inmates of the harem of the Sultan of Turkey. The photographer who took this picture found her most courteous and obliging, and able to converse fluently in English, French and German. Abdul Mezed, who ruled Turkey during the Crimean War, had 1200 wives and odalisques in his harem. When a Turkish Sultan wishes to show especial honor to a subject, he makes him a present of one of the cast-off wives. To refuse the gift would be to invite death. The harem is continually recruited by the gifts of those who wish to carry favor with the Sultan, and these comprise slaves of every nationality.