In the centre rose a mass of architecture with eight equal faces.

It was surmounted by cupolas which thronged around a second story supporting a kind of rotunda, from which sprang a cone with a re-entrant curve and terminating in a ball on the summit.
Fires were burning in cylinders of filigree-work fitted upon poles, which men were carrying to and fro.

These lights flickered in the gusts of wind and reddened the golden combs which fastened their plaited hair on the nape of the neck.

They ran about calling to one another to receive the Ancients.
Here and there on the flag-stones huge lions were couched like sphinxes, living symbols of the devouring sun.

They were slumbering with half-closed eyelids.