The Side Colonnades and the Three Gates

Besides this, there were two colonnades on each side, with upper and lower rows of pillars, matching the church itself in length; and their roofs too were ornamented with gold. Of these colonnades, the ones outside the church were supported by columns of great size, while the ones inside them rested on piers of stone, beautifully decorated on their surface. Three gates, set exactly toward the east, were made to receive the crowds who entered the church. [a]