OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. 323 



The diminution of the Greek shafts is much more rapid than that of 

 the Egyptian; and, furthermore, is generally more rapid in the older 

 Greek temples than in the later. For example, I take a few speci- 

 mens from the long list given by Dr. P. F. Krell, in his " History 

 of the Doric Style" (Stuttgart, 1870) : — 



Temple at Assos 1 in 1 1 .62 



Temple of Poseidon at Passtum .... " 13.34 



Temple of Heracles at Agrigentum ... " 15.04 



Temple " D " on the Acropolis of Selinus . " 17.00 



Temple of Athene at iEgina "21.18 



Temple of Artemis at Ortygia .... " 23.83 



Temple of Theseus at Athens .... " 25.17 



The Parthenon at Athens " 26.43 



Temple of Nemesis at Rhamnus .... " 29.44 



The average of twenty-one examples is 1 in 20.45. 



The rates of diminution at Benihassan are plainly unconnected with 

 this series. They are, approximately : — 



Porch of Tomb 2 (10-sided) 1 in 42 



" 1 (8-sided) "55 



Interior of Tomb 1 (16-sided) "100 



The ratio between the lower diameters of the shafts at Benihassan 

 and their heights corresponds with that exhibited, not by the older 

 Greek columns, but by those of the culminating epoch of Hellenic 

 architecture. Mr. Fergusson seems to be at fault on this point. In 

 the positive belief that the Greek but imitates the Egyptian order, he 

 selects three examples to typify what he terms the three stages in the 

 development of the Doric style, — the immature or imitative, the ma- 

 ture or perfected, and the degenerate stages. His first example — from 

 the ancient temple of Corinth — "is one of the most massive specimens 

 of architecture existing, more so than even its rock-cut prototype at 

 Benihassan, from which it is most indubitably copied " ; * the second is 

 from the Parthenon, and represents the same order as it was refined 

 and perfected by the sensitive Greek taste; while the third is " the 

 weak and lean form of the Roman order of the same name." f His 

 table of ratios — whence derived, I do not know — is as follows : — 



* Hist, of Architecture, i. 220. J Ibid., i. 227. 



