CIVIL ARCHITECTURE. 



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Approach 



to the 

 u-mplc of 

 (he SUM. 



botdal forms, each having a flown- in the center. In the 

 middle part of each soffit it a large circle ; round -one of 

 them are the ligni of the zodiac, and within it pentago- 

 nal compartment* with butt*, one evidently a Mercury, 

 and another Apollo. Round the circle of the other 

 ofiu it a very rich fret work, and a large open flower in 

 ihe center. 



Next in consequence to thif magnificent court and 

 temple, it the ruin named the long portico, laid to have 

 been distinctly traced for a distance of 4000 feet ; it com- 

 mences at about 1200 feet to the north wctt of the tem- 

 ple ; it it composed of four rows of columns, embracing a 

 breadth of K'J feet ; that is, the tpacc between the middle 

 row of columns being 37 feet, and on each tide 16 feet ; 

 the diameter of the columns it 3 feet S inches ; the in- 

 tercolumn lengthwise 7 feet 2 inches. At the entrance 

 to this portico is a gateway, consisting of three arched 

 passages, the middle is 4.'> feet high, and 23 feet (> inches 

 wide ; those on each side ;_"J feet high, and 1 1 feet 6 

 inches wide. The external and internal facades hare 

 Corinthian pilasters, and a pediment over the middle part ; 

 the pilasters are pannelled and enriched like those at 

 Spalatro ; the frieze is covered with acorns and small 

 leaves. The height of this order, including a plinth of 

 three feet, measures 57 feet 6 inches. The whole has 

 the appearance of a fine triumphal arch. It does not 

 stand at a right angle, but in an oblique position to the 

 general direction of the portico. 



We must deny ourselves the pleasure of entering upon 

 the description of the other numerous temples and tombs 

 of which vestiges were discovered, and proceed to give 

 a short account of Balbcc. 



Balbec had been so completely destroyed, that the 

 vestiges of three edifices only could be traced by Messrs 

 Dawkins and Wood, as appears by their book, publish- 

 ed in 1757. These consist of the Temple of the Sun, 

 with its courts; another smaller temple immediately ad- 

 jacent to it ; and a singular circular temple, which stood 

 about 4OO feet to the south-east of the former. The 

 great temple is first approached by a stair, 180 feet in 

 length, rising 24 feet, to an oblong portico of the same 

 length, and 4O feet in depth ; and this portico has, at each 

 end, an apartment 38 feet by 31 in the clear. The fa- 

 cade of this noble portico consists of 12 columns in the 

 open part, and four pilasters at each end, standing 

 against the before-mentioned apartments. The height 

 of the order, which is Corinthian, is 52 feet ; and, be- 

 tides the general basement, which, as at Palmyra, forms 

 a regular pedestal, there is here another about three feet 

 iix inches high. The diameter of the columns is four 

 feet three inches at the bottom, and three feet nine inches 

 at the top, and the intercolumn is 9 feet six inches, and 

 eleven feet and eleven feet six inches. The bases are at- 

 tic ; the shafts are plain ; the architrave has its upper 

 member enriched ; the frieze is flat and plain ; the cornice 

 hat dentils and modillions, and has the upper member 

 enriched ; there is no break over the columns, and only 

 a very small one at the pilasters. Over the order is an 

 attic, or rather a pedestal with its plinth, dado, and 

 cornice, altogether about ten feet in height. In thit 

 there it a small pilaster over each column and pilaster 

 below, and upon the top of each there is a small square 

 plinth. The whole height of this facade is 89 feet (5 

 inches. Under the porch, and in the apartments at each 

 end, there it a tuccetsion of tabernacles in two heights ; 

 the upper ones having pediments over them, alternately 

 circular and pointed ; omc having the level cornice in- 

 terrupted by a thell, and others, a part of the raking 

 cornier, leaving an opening in the middle part. From un- 



der this portico there arc three passage door-ways ; that Practice, 

 in the middle is 34 feet high and 17 wide ; thoic on each *~ "" . """" 

 side IS feet high and 10 feet wide. These doors are 

 surrounded on the sides and top by TCI y broad plain ar- 

 chitrave*. The friezes are all low, flat, and plain. The 

 cornices have plain modillions. These entrances lead into 

 an hexagonal court, two side* of which measure 1 10, court? 

 and the other four 88 feet each ; the breadth across be- 

 ing 14(J feet. On five sides of this singular court, there 

 are apartments, some GO, and others (i:! feet long, and 

 22 feet in breadth. The back and end walls arc filled 

 with tabernacle*. The sides next the courts arc open, 

 and each supported by four columns, 2 feet 9 inches dia- 

 meter at the bottom, and 2 feet ."> inches at the top, and 

 having intcrcolumns of 9 feet 6 inches, and <) fert :'j inches 

 and S feet 7.J inches. Between these large apartments 

 are others in the angles, of various shapes and dimen- 

 sions. The sixth side forms an entrance into a large 

 quadrangular court, measuring 374 X 368 feet ; having ( ~ 

 along three of its sides oblong apartments, similar to f^rt 

 those in the hexagonal court, from 57 to 80 feet in 

 length, and 22 in breadth ; and there are on two side* 

 two semicircular recesses, 32 feet diameter, with five 

 niches in each, and having two large columns in the open 

 sides next the court : There are also, besides, eight rect- 

 angular apartments. The columns in this court arc also 

 2 feet 9 inches diameter, with intercolumns from t> feet 

 2 inches to 8 feet 4 inches. The orders in both courts 

 appear to be the same in form and dimensions. They 

 stand upon insulated pedestals, five feet in height. From 

 the top of this, the order measures :;:! feet (> inches. 

 The shafts are all plain. The architrave has the small 

 beads and upper members enriched. The frieze is very 

 low : The ground of it is flat, and is decorated by short 

 festoons of flowers, suspended upon oxes' skulls, and 

 small masks between them, all in bold relief. The cor- 

 nice has dentils and modillions, and four other members 

 enriched. Over the order is an attic, or pedestal, with 

 small pilasters. The niches and tabernacles are finished 

 similar to those in the portico, with pediments, pointed, 

 circular, and broken ; and there are besides, in the niches 

 of the semicircular recesses, some pilasters with enriched 

 pannels and capitals, with Corinthian bases, and Ionic 

 angular volutes, and enriched ovolo resembling the Ro- 

 man composite. When the whole of those courts were 

 perfect, it is scarcely possible to conceive any thing in 

 Roman architecture to have been more imposing. 



On a line with the extremity of this quadrangular Temple, 

 court commences the peristyle of the temple ; and the 

 situation of the columns alone can be traced, of which, 

 very fortunately, nine remain standing, and have their 

 entablature perfect. There are ten in front, and nine- 

 teen on the sides, counting those at the angles twice. 

 The extreme length over the columns measures 285 feet, 

 the breadth 1 57. The diameter is 7 feet at the bottom, 

 and 6 feet !> inches at the top. The intercolumn is from 

 8 feet to 8 feet 10 inches. The middle, or entrance, 

 opening at each end, is 13 feet 9 inches. The shafts 

 consist of three pieces, joined by iron dowels above one 

 foot diameter. The wlwle height of the order, inclu- 

 ding a plinth of four feet, is 87 feet. The bases arc 

 attic ; the shafts are plain ; the capitals are a chaste, 

 beautiful Corinthian, with the members of the abacus 

 quite plain ; the architrave has the small beads, and two 

 upper members, viz. an ovolo and cavetto, enriched ; the 

 frieze is very low, the ground plain, enriched by invert- 

 ed trusses, with heads and masques over each, and fes- 

 toons of flowers between them fastened to the masques 

 by ribbons. Immediately over these lies a small, but 



