Architecture in the United States. 1 7 



sity for this form of building, since the professed object of their erec- 

 tion would have been answered just as well by any other style. There 

 was no necessity in the case. It is indeed difficult to find any pur- 

 pose of equal consequence, that would leave the artist so entirely to 

 the guidance of his own inclination, as that of the Grecian temple. 

 He must have a spot for the image of his deity, but this spot might 

 be enclosed or open ; the enclosure might be made light, or obscure ; 

 it might be a single chamber, or many chambers, and of any shape 

 whatever : the artist was left ad libitum in every point. This form 

 and this order then, selected when architecture was at its greatest per- 

 fection, and used almost exclusively during its perfect state, while at 

 the same time, it was at full liberty to employ any others, present to 

 us the best subject we could desire, from which to discover the true 

 principles of the art. The exceeding beauty of the Grecian Doric, 

 is acknowledged by every one, who has had an opportunity of ex- 

 amining it. "In this fabric," says Hobhouse, speaking of the temple 

 of Theseus, " the most enduring stability and a simplicity of design 

 peculiarly striking, are united with the highest elegance and accuracy 

 of workmanship ; the characteristic of the Doric style, whose chaste 

 beauty is not in the opinion of the first artists, to be equalled by the 

 graces of any of the other orders. A gentleman at Athens, of great 

 taste and skill, assured me that after a continued contemplation of this 

 temple, and the remains of the Parthenon, he could never again look 

 with his accustomed satisfaction upon the Ionic and Corinthian re- 

 mains at Athens, much less upon the more modern specimens of 

 architecture to be seen in Italy." To^ this order and this form, we 

 shall then direct our attention with the strongest confidence in both. 

 The Greek temple was so simple in all its parts, that the process 

 of its construction may be easily understood. A level area was first 

 formed considerably larger than the intended limits of the building : 

 this was paved and constituted the peribolus. On the peribolus a 

 rectangular platform was constructed, of the same material as the 

 temple, and usually of a length a little greater than twice the breadth.* 

 The platform was ascended all around, by three low steps. The 



* The following may be taken as a specimen of their proportions. 



Length. Breadth. 



Parthenon, 218 98^ 



Temple of Theseus, 110 45 



Jupiter Panhellenius, 94 47 



Vol. XVIII.— No. 1. 3 



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