Unfortunately, no trace of inscription remains, although a search amongst the débris, which encumbers the base of the inner façade, might be rewarded by success.
The dimensions of this arch given on the plan and elevation are as follows:—
| Ft. | in. | lines. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening of arch | 16 | 11 | 4 |
| Breadth of pier | 13 | 6 | 0 |
| Depth of pier | 12 | 6 | 3 |
| Distance between columns | 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Diameter of column | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Distance between column and pilaster | 3 | 9 | 0 |
| Height of stylobate | 6 | 5 | 2 |
| „ base of column | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| „ shaft of column | 17 | 8 | 6 |
| „ capital | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| „ entablature | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| „ attic | 11 | 6 | 4 |
| „ arch to keystone | 26 | 0 | 0 |
| Total height of building | 44 | 9 | 4 |
Close to the arch is a group of olive-trees, and a delicious spring rises from the ground a few yards further off. During the whole of our ride yesterday we noticed at intervals rocks consisting of a mass of petrified oyster-shells; here also they recur, and in the spring I have just mentioned are two frusta of columns made of this material, which has an excellent effect.
In the ravine below the arch we observed a Lybian tombstone, containing the representation of a figure with the face mutilated, holding objects like ears of corn in his hand, and three lines of inscription below.
From this arch a paved road led towards the south-west, where it conducted to a large building, on the site of which the tomb of one of the members of the family of Sidi Ali bin Amer has been built. Numbers of monolithic columns of limestone lie scattered about, and one still remains in position. Bruce, in his notes, thus alludes to this building:—
There were the ruins of a Corinthian temple, surrounded by a portico, at the south-west end of the town, but it was thus thrown down lately, as was another smaller one built over a fountain, for the sake of the lead which joined the stones together.
Here I identified a small fragment of the inscription recorded by Sir Grenville Temple,[179] from which he concludes that either this temple or the neighbouring amphitheatre was built in the reign of Trajan. The inscription as it now exists is . . . AIANI PAR . . . Sir Grenville supplies two other letters, TH. As the name of Trajan here appears in the genitive case, it is more probable that it was built in the time of Hadrian, and that the inscription would have been, TRAIANI PARTHICI FILIVS.
Continuing along this road, on the left hand, is a small amphitheatre constructed of rubble masonry, faced, no doubt, at one time with cut stones, to judge from the number lying about. It is of elliptical form, the major axis being about 160 feet, and the minor one about 114.
A little further off, and to the right, are the remains of a building which M. Guérin believes to have been a temple of Diana,[180] he having found the name of that goddess on a fragment of marble, which had probably formed the base of a statue. The building is too much ruined to permit any conjecture as to its destination, and though I searched diligently, I failed to find the inscription in question.