DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9840#0052
4
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE BUILDINGS
[CHAF.
intermission, from the day when the Venetians first set
foot on their shores4.
As I walked through the streets of Khania, the
period when Venice possessed the island was often re-
called to my mind. The arches seen, in the view of
the port and city at the head of the chapter, were
designed for Venetian Galleys5; and coats of arms are
still observed over the doorways of some of the prin-
cipal houses". Most of the churches, both Greek and
Latin, have been converted into mosques: the chapel
of San Rocco is however still recognized by the fol-
lowing inscription on the frieze of its entablature :
DEO O. M. ET D. ROCCO DICATVM MDCXXX.
We have here an instance of the not uncommon
Roman Catholic custom, of inscribing on a church the
name of the Saint to whom it is dedicated. A similar
practice existed among the heathen Greeks and Romans,
from whom, in all probability, the modern usage has
been derived. It would fill a page to enumerate the
pagan temples on which were thus inscribed the names
both of deities and of those deified mortals whom the
4 Cronaca Veneziana dal Primo Doge Paoluccio Anafesto, cioe dall'
anno DCXCV sino al MCCCCXXX. (In this MS. there is a gap from 824
to 1244.) See the Catalogo della Biblioteca Marciana, p. 226. The MS. is
numbered Codice xix. At pag. 27. Del 1252. "Li Greci de l'isola de Candia
ano avuto sempre mal ammo contra la Signoria de Venetia, non contend star
sotto quela. Cognosando la Signoria de Venetia, la delibero de far una cita
fra Candia et Retimo (this is a very great topographical mistake of the
Chronicler) per astrenzer li diti Grecj, et cusi fo edifichado la tera de la Cania,
et in quel luogo fono mandati molti zentilhomeni ad habitar de li, con le
condition che sono mandati li altri zentilhomeni in Candia. Et fato la Cania
el primo retor che fo mandado fo Mess. Felipo Zulia (that is Giuliani)." See
also Cornaro, or, to use his Latin name, Cornelius, Creta Sacra, Vol. i.
pp. 278. & 283. The existing fortifications of the principal cities of Crete
were, however, constructed by the Venetians at a much later period.
5 The lighthouse near the entrance of the port no longer exists : it fell
in a stormy night while I was in Crete.
6 One is accompanied by a date and an inscription:
MVLTA TVLIT FECITQ / PATER SVDAVIT ET ALSIT
ET STVDVIT DULCES 1 SEMPER REQVIESCERE NATOS
CIOIOCVIII V_ J IDIB IAN.
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE BUILDINGS
[CHAF.
intermission, from the day when the Venetians first set
foot on their shores4.
As I walked through the streets of Khania, the
period when Venice possessed the island was often re-
called to my mind. The arches seen, in the view of
the port and city at the head of the chapter, were
designed for Venetian Galleys5; and coats of arms are
still observed over the doorways of some of the prin-
cipal houses". Most of the churches, both Greek and
Latin, have been converted into mosques: the chapel
of San Rocco is however still recognized by the fol-
lowing inscription on the frieze of its entablature :
DEO O. M. ET D. ROCCO DICATVM MDCXXX.
We have here an instance of the not uncommon
Roman Catholic custom, of inscribing on a church the
name of the Saint to whom it is dedicated. A similar
practice existed among the heathen Greeks and Romans,
from whom, in all probability, the modern usage has
been derived. It would fill a page to enumerate the
pagan temples on which were thus inscribed the names
both of deities and of those deified mortals whom the
4 Cronaca Veneziana dal Primo Doge Paoluccio Anafesto, cioe dall'
anno DCXCV sino al MCCCCXXX. (In this MS. there is a gap from 824
to 1244.) See the Catalogo della Biblioteca Marciana, p. 226. The MS. is
numbered Codice xix. At pag. 27. Del 1252. "Li Greci de l'isola de Candia
ano avuto sempre mal ammo contra la Signoria de Venetia, non contend star
sotto quela. Cognosando la Signoria de Venetia, la delibero de far una cita
fra Candia et Retimo (this is a very great topographical mistake of the
Chronicler) per astrenzer li diti Grecj, et cusi fo edifichado la tera de la Cania,
et in quel luogo fono mandati molti zentilhomeni ad habitar de li, con le
condition che sono mandati li altri zentilhomeni in Candia. Et fato la Cania
el primo retor che fo mandado fo Mess. Felipo Zulia (that is Giuliani)." See
also Cornaro, or, to use his Latin name, Cornelius, Creta Sacra, Vol. i.
pp. 278. & 283. The existing fortifications of the principal cities of Crete
were, however, constructed by the Venetians at a much later period.
5 The lighthouse near the entrance of the port no longer exists : it fell
in a stormy night while I was in Crete.
6 One is accompanied by a date and an inscription:
MVLTA TVLIT FECITQ / PATER SVDAVIT ET ALSIT
ET STVDVIT DULCES 1 SEMPER REQVIESCERE NATOS
CIOIOCVIII V_ J IDIB IAN.