|
|
|
|
|
Marco Polo on the Mongol style As part of a continuing series on life at the Great-Khan's court, Venetian merchant Marco Polo describes the magnificence of Great-Khan's imperial palace in Cambaluc. It is the greatest palace that ever was. The roof is very lofty, and the walls of the palace are all covered with gold and silver. They are also adorned with representations of dragons, beasts and birds, knights and idols, and sundry other subjects. And on the ceiling, too, you see nothing but gold and silver and painting. The hall of the palace is so large that it could easily [seat] 6,000 people [to dine]; and it is quite a marvel to see how many rooms there are besides. The building is altogether so vast, so rich, and so beautiful, that no man on earth could design anything superior to it. The outside of the roof also is all colored with vermilion and yellow and green and blue and other hues, which are fixed with a varnish so fine and exquisite that they shine like crystal, and lend a resplendent luster to the palace as seen for a great way around.
|
