I'jg-i. «n taste i» architecture. i6i^ 



fore the reign of Psamettichus, entrance was denied 

 to everj stranger, and the art of architecture had 

 been then cultivated by the Grecians." 



Besides, in studying the beautiful remains of temples 

 in Greece, a progrefs from the rude models of the 

 highest antiquity, to the perfection of the art in the 

 age immediately preceding the Macedonian conquest, 

 is plainly discernible ; after which the false taste for 

 internal, and finally external, ornament on the capitals, 

 freezes, and architraves, of columns, and the pedi- 

 ments of the porticoes of their temples, marked the 

 consequences of Asiatic conquest and luxury, by the- 

 introduction of fastidious and corrupt ornament. 



With respect to the architecture of the Romans, 

 it was originally borrowed from Greece, but at a 

 time when Rome was not sufficiently wealthy to 

 vie with them in magnificent structures. 



Before the accefsion of Augustus to the supreme 

 power, Rome was chiefly composed of brick, or wood- 

 en houses ; and these having no party walls, were ex- 

 posed continually to the ravages of fire. Few of the 

 bouses were insulated or separate from others, and 

 these in general were temples or public edifices j 

 and great structures for public meetings, were so 

 few, that we observe the temples were generally- 

 used upon solemn occasions, and even frequently for 

 ' the afsemblies of the senate. 



With respect to the houses of the private citizens 

 in town, they appear to have been very simple, and 

 modest, and seldom elevated above one range of apart- 

 ments ; though when luxury and caprice began tp 

 insinuate themselves after the end of the Carthagi- 



