The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-28
Roa1s,s LIT1IH.NnoWN BoHB.
An odaity IN rsethsa ef cessirustisu. " Rsnts
setrssn %. Peters and -, faui's.

MetSeen 81 Peters nnd ~, rnu1fp.
EtOm Archaeetars and Bpadino.
There are few places In the world where one
may stand and count, within range OF the naked
eye, thirteen domes. among which is one Of con-
siderable dimensions; yet this can DO done on
the island OF Malta. Standing on a hill above
Slicma, q short distance from Valotta, thirteen
domes arc within sight, and that OF Mosta Is ono
Of them, towering high up above its neiEhbors.
Mosta 10 a squalid village situated about four
miles from the city OF valetta, but at one time
II was a town of considerable Importance.
In tho carly part OF the present century tho
villagers and euro, finding the old church too
small to accommodate tho increasing popula-
ton, determined to enlarge the church or build
another. The village mason was consulted, and
after several confabs over the matter, 1t was dc
cidcd to, build q now church altogether, and that
i must be built on the site OF the old one; and
not be removed until the new one was ready to
occupy. Here was u dilemma. The whole mat.
ter; however. was left In the hands Of tho priest
work. built the new church over tho
IDLY that not eve even a single Sundays scr
vice was omitted, Tho great dome was built
one of the largest in the world and is consid:
cred among the finest. The mason who erected
devis ses" shas a Sppl not % psrnSi SsiSIis'ii IN sn general mSEsI
building practice, yet time has proved that his
methods were In the main correct, for. SO far as
as can be discovered, the church stands as solid
to-day as when built, and the great dome that
surmounts the edifce shows not tho least sign
OF movement. Hero Is O list of tho principal
domes of the world and their dimensions, show
ing the importance of that of Mosta:
st. Peters, Rome. is 1888 feet in height, with
an interior diameter OF 1877 feet.
The Pantheon. Rome, IL only 146 feet high,
but IT. has q diameter OF 142 feet inside.
st. Maria, Florence: Height, 275 feet; diame-
ter. 1877 feet.
st; Paul's, London: Height. go feet; Diane
ter, 10S feet.
Santa Sophia. Constantinople: Height, 1872
feet: diameter, 1O7 feet.
The dome Of Mosta is 200 feet high and 124
feet in diameter, being is feet larger than the
great dome of st. Paul's.
One of the largest domes in India, the land Of
domes, is that OF Col Gomuz at Beejapore, which
is lT5 feet high and 1914 feet in diameter, rank
ing, like that Of Mostn, between. st. Peters and
st. Pauls. The exterior height is 1913 feet.
This dome covers the tomb of Mohammed Shah.
the sixth king of the Moslem dynasty In Beeia-
pore, who died in 1889, so that the building is
nearly contemporary with St. Paul's. The
name signifies tho Rose Dome. The Sultan
is buried undcr 1t with the simple inscription.
sultan Mohammed. "A dweller in Paradise"
Internally the extreme plainness of tho Moste
dome increases its appearance Of size. 1t is
perfectly smooth, and II tho exterior was as
simple the building would be much more agreea-
BILE. 1t is built of a beautiful yellow stone. but
possesses no architectural merit other than
what pertains to the dome, as the building itself
is disfGured with a series of mongrel carvings
and mouldings of a very debased kind.