CIVIL ARCHITECTURE. 



615 



Practice. 



Pronaos 

 and potti. 



Rcriityle. 



remarks. 



Minerva 

 Paathenon. 

 PLIIB 

 CLVII. 



Dimen- 

 sion?. 



The prostyle temples were generally tctrastyle, or with 

 four columns. 



The hexastyle and octostyle were generally peripteral, 

 though there is an exception in the octostyle temple of 

 Bacchus at Teos, being poeudodipteral. 



The decastyle peripteral temples were generally hy- 

 paethral, but the Parthenon at Athens is octostyle hy- 

 paethral. This arises from its great breadth. 



Temples had also names depending on the distance at 

 which the columns were placed from each other. The 

 interval is called intercolumniation, and is measured by 

 the lower diameter of the shaft. When it is 1 1 diame- 

 ter, it is named Pycnostyle ; when 2, Systyle ; when 2^, 

 Eustyle ; when 3^, Diastyle ; and when 4, Arzeostyle. 

 Of all these, the eustyle has been most generally prac- 

 tised both by the ancients and moderns. 



The space between the columns and wall at the en- 

 trance or front end, is denominated pronaos. The similar 

 space at the opposite end, the posticum. The space 

 within the walls was called the cell. 



In the hypzthral temples, besides rows of columns 

 along the outside, there were also rows within the cells, 

 end these were placed sometimes along each of the four 

 sides, and sometimes along the longer sides only. These 

 were necessary to support the roof, and were named Pe- 

 ristyle. In some instances, as in the temple of of Miner- 

 va at Tegea, and at Paestum, the inner rows consisted of 

 two heights of columns ; but it is proper to observe, 

 that, in both these specimens, the upper rows have, by 

 judicious persons, been ascribed to the Romans. 



In the application of the Doric order to temples, the 

 intercolumniation was regulated by the triglyphs. Where 

 there was only one between the columns, the mode was 

 denominated monotriglyph, and it was almost the only one 

 employed in the Grecian edifices. 



In the Greek temples, the number of columns along 

 each flank or longer side, was always one more than 

 double the number along the front, or shorter side ; 

 that is to say, if there were eight columns along the front, 

 there were seventeen along the flanks, counting the angu- 

 lar columns both in the front and flank ranges. These 

 temples were raised upon an artificial platform, ascended 

 by three steps, which surrounded the whole building. The 

 outer row of columns, which stood upon the upper step 

 with their accompanying entablature, also surrounded the 

 building without a single break. The pediments upon 

 the ends, the whole of the frieze along the columns, and 

 likewise that along the walls under the portico, were fre- 

 quently filled with the most exquisite sculptures. 



We shall now proceed to produce some examples from 

 Greek temples which still exist ; and as works executed 

 under the influence of Pericles, and the immediate di- 

 rection of Phidias, must exhibit the essence of Greek 

 taste, we have selected those formed in the Acropolis 

 at Athens, as faithfully measured and delineated by 

 Messrs Stuart and Revet, and which fortunately afford 

 perfect specimens of the Doric, Ionic, and Cariatides. 



The magnificent temple, dedicated to Minerva Par- 

 thenon, (se Plate CLVII.) which stood within the A- 

 cropolis, was 225 feet in length, and 100 feet in breadth, 

 measured on the top of the third step which surrounded 

 the building. There were eight Doric columns in each 

 front, and seventeen on each side, counting those at the 

 angle twice. They were without bases ; the row which 

 surrounded the whole buildings were those at the angles 

 6 feet 3.5 inches, all the others 6 feet 1.8 inches diame- 

 ter ; and, including the capitals, were 84 feet 2.8 inches 

 high. The intercolumns, next the angles, were each 

 5 feet 8.8 inche, all the others 7 feet 11.5 inches. The 



height of the architrave was 4 feet 5.1 inches, and of the Practice, 

 frieze, including the cap of the triglyph, the same. The S "'Y"~**' 

 height of the cornice, exclusive of the top member, 2 

 feet 4.6 inches. The depth of the spandrel of the pedi- 

 ment, at the middle, 1 1 feet 6 inches. The inner row of 

 columns in the portico at each end, stood two steps higher 

 than the outer row. These steps also passed quite a- 

 round the cell. The diameter of these columns was 

 5 feet 6.5 inches. The distance from centre to centre of 

 those next the ants was 12 feet 0.3 inch ; of the others 

 13 feet 9 inches. The breadth of the front of the antse 

 4 feet 11.7 inches. A peculiarity here was, that the in- 

 ner row of columns stood before the antsc ; whereas, in 

 other temples, they usually had the antse in a line with 

 them. The column shafts were fluted. The flutes were 

 shallow, and met in a sharp edge. They reached from' 

 the bottom of the shaft to the underside of the cap ; and 

 here were cinctures in place of astragals. In the soffit 

 of the entablature were mutulep, with 18 drops in each. 

 The soffit, at the external angles, was decorated with 

 honeysuckles. All the metopes in the frieze (92 in num.- g cu i p ture. 

 ber) have been enriched with sculpture. Those on the 

 south side have each a groupe, representing a Centaur 

 combating a Lapitha : they are in the finest alto relievo. 

 Those on the northern sides and two fronts were more de- 

 faced. On the frieze, under the porticos, which encom- 

 passed the cell, and measured 520 feet in length, and 

 3 feet 4 inches in height, was represented the Panathenaic 

 procession. Sixty feet on each side have been occupied 

 by horsemen, who attend the festival. They were pre- 

 ceded by charioteers. In the last is a youth, supposed 

 a victor in the chariot races. A man is about to crowir 

 him. There are also sacrifices. On the eastern pedi- 

 ment was an assemblage of the gods, in which Jupiter 

 appears to be receiving Minerva, and acknowledging her 

 as his daughter. On the pediment at the other end was 

 represented Minerva's contest with Neptune. From the? 

 front of the inner columns to the front of the wall of 

 the cell, the distance is 17 feet 6.2 inches. The thick- 

 ness of this wall is 6 feet 7.9 inches. The entrance door- 

 way is 12 feet 6.75 inches wide, and 28 feet 8 inches 

 high. Here is an ascent of about one inch into the Pro- 

 nzus, which had been covered and supported by six co- 

 lumns, viz. three on each side. It was the Opisthodo- 

 mas, or place where the public treasury was kept. The> 

 length 43 feet 9.75 inches ; the breadth 62 feet 6 in- 

 ches. From this apartment was a doorway of equal 

 breadth to the former, which opened into the great apart- 

 ment, 98 feet 7.25 inches in length, and 62 feet 6 inches 

 in breadth. The wall, which divided this from the Pro- 

 naeus, was 2 feet 1 1 inches thick. The side or outer 

 walls each 3 feet 10.3 inches. A space 15 feet in breadth 

 along the sides, and 14 at each end, was covered and sup- 

 ported by a row of columns. The middle space be- 

 tween these columns was open, and sunk about one inch 

 below the level of the sides. It was in this division that 

 the famous statue of Minerva stood. Wheeler and Spoil, 

 who visited Athens in 1676, being 1 1 years before the 

 Venetians destroyed the roof, saw within the cell, on ' 



each side, two rows of columns, one above another, 

 standing at some distance from the wall. The decora- 

 tions of the eastern front prove it to have been original- 

 ly the principal entrance. Under Phidias, the architects 

 were Calibrates and Ictinus. It was built of Pentilic 

 marble ; and the inimitable sculptures which adorned its 

 pediments and friezes, partly acquired to this country by 

 the exertions of Lord Elgin, shew the degree of perfection 

 to which the Greeks had carried that art, (see ATHENS.) 

 Reflections have been cast on that nobleman, for thus cV- 



Architects. 



