‹‹‹ Vitr. 2.8.12 | Table of Contents | Vitr. 2.8.14 ›››
13I must now, however, proceed to finish my description of the city. On the right summit we have described the temple of Venus and the above named fountain to have been placed: on the left stood the royal palace, which was planned by Mausolus himself. This commanded, on the right, a view of the forum and harbour, and of the whole circuit of the walls: on the left, it overlooked a secret harbour, hidden by the mountains, into which no one could pry, so as to be aware of what was transacting therein. In short, from his palace, the king, without any person being aware of it, could give the necessary orders to his soldiers and sailors.
13But since I have been tempted into giving a description of this fortified place, it remains to finish my account of it. Corresponding to the fane of Venus and the spring described above, which are on the right, we have on the extreme left the royal palace which king Mausolus built there in accordance with a plan all his own. To the right it commands a view of the forum, the harbour, and the entire line of fortifications, while just below it, to the left, there is a concealed harbour, hidden under the walls in such a way that nobody could see or know what was going on in it. Only the king himself could, in case of need, give orders from his own palace to the oarsmen and soldiers, without the knowledge of anybody else.