CIVIL ARCHITECTURE. 



Minerva 

 Poliai, E- 

 rechthieuf, 

 and Pin- 

 drmut. 



PUT* 



CLVII. 



tonic order. 



FLIT* 



ci.vir. 



of order. 



privir.g this splendid ruin of it* appropriate decorations. 

 If it had been possible to have preserved it inviolate, he 

 would have undoubtedly been blamcable ; btit when it 

 is considered that the baud of ignorant barbarism had 

 already, during a recent period, converted one inimita- 

 ble structure into lime for mortar, and material! for con- 

 structing filthy huts ; and had also laid sacrilegious hands 

 upon the Parthenon itself ; and that depredations had 

 likewise been commenced by a power, which, from its 

 extensive spoliations in other quarters, left no room to 

 doubt its intentions here, this active nobleman, instead 

 of being exposed to censure, ought to receive the warm- 

 est acknowledgments of the British arti.its and nation. 



In the preface to the third volume of Stuart's Anti- 

 quities, by Rcvely, we learn that the columns of the 

 Temple of Minerva were composed of single blocks 

 in thickness ; that each course was somewhat more 

 than one diameter high ; that the wall inclosing the 

 cell was formed of a single row of marble blocks in 

 thickness ; that the vertical joints alternately correspond- 

 ed ; that from the top of the upper step to the bottom 

 of the architrave, being 33 feet, there were 17 courses ; 

 that each capital was of one block, 2 feet 9.9 inches 

 high ; that the architrave lies upon them without any 

 other precaution than perfect accuracy. The architrave 

 consists of three blocks in thickness, each reaching from 

 centre to centre of the columns. The fritze is in two 

 courses in height, and each of them so much short of 

 thickness, as to admit the metope, a thin slab, to be pla- 

 ced against it. The triglyph tails in, in one height, but 

 does not go through. The cornice is in blocks, which 

 are the width of one mutulc and one space, their ends 

 forming a complete course in the inside. The tympa- 

 num of the pediment is formed of one course of upright 

 slabs on the outside face, with horizontal courses behind 

 them. The pavement is formed in squares of equal size; 

 they are large and thick ; the joints, as in the universal 

 practice at Athens, arc so neatly fitted, as scarcely to be 

 discernible. 



Adjacent to the Parthenon stood the singular and 

 beautiful structure, which contained the temples of E 

 rechtheus or Neptune, of Minerva Polias, (or -protec- 

 tress of the city,) and that of Pandrosus, one of the 

 daughters of Cecropa, (see Plate CLVII.) The prin- 

 cipal mass of the building was of an oblong shape, with 

 a portico of six Ionic columns at one end to the temple 

 of Neptune, and four of the same order to that of Mi- 

 nerva. There was also another portico of six Ionic co- 

 lumns, which pn jetted partly from the side, and partly 

 extended beyond one angle of the temple of Minerva. 

 Opposite to this, on the other side of the last mentioned 

 temple, was a small projection which composed the tem- 

 ple of Pandrosus; and the front of this projection wag 

 supported by Cariatide;. The floor of the temple of 

 Neptune was about eight feet above the level of the 

 other two. This irregularity of height and shape pro- 

 duces a fine effect, as will be observed by consulting 

 Plate CLVi I. The columns of the portico of the tem- 

 ple of Neptune, including the base and cap, are 21 feet 

 7.8 inches high, and 2 feet 3.8 inches diameter. The in- 

 tercolumns, from centre to centre, are 6 feet 11.2 inches. 

 Dutance from the centre of column to the face of the 

 wall 6 feet 5 inches. The columns of the temple of Mi- 

 nerva are 22 feet 10 inches high, and 2 feet 9.34 inches 

 diameter. The intercolumn, from centre to centre, is 

 10 feet 3.6 inches. The shafts of the columns are flu- 

 :ed, and the neck of the caps enriched with honey- 

 suckles. The caps are also enrichtd, as ii one member 

 cf the architrave and two of the cornice. The same en. 



richment, as on the neck of the capitals, is carried along T 

 the sides of the cell under the general architrave, being -,/- 

 a continuation of the cap of thtr antz. The base, capi- 

 tals, and entablature of the portico to tin- temple of Mi- 

 nerva are btautiful. The upper torus of the base of the 

 column is enriched with a Guilochi. The base nearly 

 resembles the attic, only the lower torus and plinth have 

 more projection, which adds to the apparent stability. 

 The capitals, at the external angles, have each a horn, 

 like the modern Ionic. The height of the architrave is 



2 feet 1.25 inches. The frieze 2 feet 2.6 inches. Level 

 cornice of pediment only 11.3 inches. The windows to 

 the Pronaus, which light the temple of Minerva, are 

 6 feet 4.36 inches in height ; they are 3 feet 1.1 inch 

 wide at the bottom, and 2 feet 10.35 inches at the top. 

 The architrave stands on a sill at the bottom, and has a 

 break on each side at the top. The height of the Cari- 

 at ides, in the temple of Pandrosus, is 7 feet 9.15 inches, 

 including the caps. The figure only 7 feet 1.05 inches. 

 The entablature they support is 2 feet 11.8 inches. It 

 is very heavy, but highly enriched. This is the only 

 ancient temple in which the entablnture is supported by 

 Cariatides. In the temple of Minerva Polias was pla- 

 ced the celebrated goldi n lamp, made by Callimachus, 

 the inventor of the Corinthian capital. This temple was 

 burnt by Xerxes. The inscription, published by Dr 

 Chandler, contains a survey of the parts which remained 

 to be completed in the 23d year of the Peloponnesian 

 war. The estimate of the expence was from ^:;00,000 

 to ^400,000 sterling. Hence, it is not improbable, that 

 this structure was begun during the administration of Pe- 

 ricles, and a stop put to it by his death, or by war. 



The temple of Theseus at Athens, was one of the 

 finest remains of the a^e of Pericles. It was entirely 

 built of Pentilic marble. It was a peripteros .f the Do- 

 ric order. The total length upon the upper step was 

 104 feet 2.9 inches ; the breadth 42 feet 2.95 inches. 

 The portico consisted of six fluted columns, and 13 on 

 each side, counting those of tlie angles twice ; the height 

 inclnding the capital, IS feet 7.18 inches; the diameter, 



3 feet 3.4 inches ; the intercolumn 5 feet 3.95 inches, and 

 5 feet 4.05 inches, and next the angle 4 feet 6 35 inches. 

 The height of the architrave was 2 feet 8.9 inches ; the 

 frieze, 2 feet 8.53 inches ; the level cornice, I fuot 0.4,5 

 incl.es. The metopes and frieze under the portico were 

 enriched ; there is also a very rich Guilochi ov^-r the lat- 

 ter. The principal front faced the cast ; here the pedi- 

 ment was filled with cxqui ite sculpture in alto-relievo, 

 fixed in their places by metal cramps. In the metopes, 

 in this front, were represented the labours of Hercules ; 

 and in the four metopes next this front, in the north and 

 south sides, were the labours of Hercules. The length 

 of the cell, exclusive of the portico, pronaus, and posti- 

 cum, was only j9 feet 9.2 inches, and the breadth 20 feet 



4 inches. 



The only temple at Corinth of which there are any re 



When 

 completed! 



Temple of 



These uk. 



mains, is of the Doric order, evidently before the age of 

 Pericles. It is built of a rough stone. The height of 

 the column, including the capital, is 23 feet 8-J inches ; 

 the diameter 5 ftet 7 inches. The sh..fts have each been 

 of one stone ; they begin to diminish from the bottom. 

 They have 20 flutes, which terminate under the listil of 

 the cup ; they are segments of circles. The height of 

 llie architrave, including the bands over the drops, ii 4 

 feet 9|- inches. The guttx are round and detached fn-m 

 the architrave ; there are six drops under the triglyphs. 

 From Dr Chandler we learn, that the temple of Ceres 

 at Eleusis, was erected under the direction of Pericles, 

 from a plan of Ictinus, one of the architects of the Par- 



Temple of 

 Corimh. 



Temple of 

 Ceret at 

 JBIeush. 



