tween which this city is situated, had no
good haven, insomuch that every one that sailed from Phoenicia for Egypt
was obliged to lie in the stormy sea, by reason of the south winds that
threatened them; which wind, if it blew but a little fresh, such vast
waves are raised, and dash upon the rocks, that upon their retreat the
sea is in a great ferment for a long way. But the king, by the expenses
he was at, and the liberal disposal of them, overcame nature, and built
a haven larger than was the Pyrecum [33] [at Athens]; and in the inner
retirements of the water he built other deep stations [for the ships
also].

6. Now although the place where he built was greatly opposite to his
purposes, yet did he so fully struggle with that difficulty, that the
firmness of his building could not easily be conquered by the sea; and
the beauty and ornament of the works were such, as though he had not had
any difficulty in the operation; for when he had measured out as large a
space as we have before mentioned, he let down stones into twenty fathom
water, the greatest part of which were fifty feet in length, and nine in
depth, and ten in breadth, and some still larger. But when the haven was
filled up to that depth, he enlarged that wall which was thus already
extant above the sea, till it was two hundred feet wide; one hundred of
which had buildings before it, in order to break the force of the waves,
whence it was called Procumatia, or the first breaker of the waves; but
the rest of the space was under a stone wall that ran round it. On this
wall were very large towers, the principal and most beautiful of which
was called Drusium, from Drusus, who was son-in-law to Caesar.

7. There
were also a great number of arches, where the mariners dwelt; and all
the places before them round about was a large valley, or walk, for a
quay [or landing-place] to those that came on shore; but the entrance
was on the north, because the north wind was there the most gentle of
all the winds. At the mouth of the haven were on each side three great
Colossi, supported by pillars, where those Colossi that are on your left
hand as you sail into the port are supported by a solid tower; but those
on the right hand are supported by two upright stones joined together,
which stones were larger than that tower which was on the other side
of the entrance. Now there were continual edifices joined to the haven,
which were also themselves of white stone; and to this