ANCIENT AND MODERN ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE. 549 

 ANCIENT AND MODERN ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE. 



DR. R. WOOD BROWN. 



The remark, " there is nothing under the Sun," is more axiomatic than the 

 casual reader believes. We think that this is a very progressive age and that our 

 generation stands pre-eminent in civilization — is the highest known. This is so, 

 but to state that we, in this age, are immeasurably superior to the ancients is, we 

 think, incorrect. Our aim is not to prove our century inferior to the past ones, 

 rather it is to present historical facts which will indicate that mordern architec- 

 tural and engineering Works are merely reproductions of those of the ancients, 

 though sometimes larger and more speedily erected, owing to better facilities. 



The works of long ago compare very favorably with those of the present, 

 and in some instances excel anything of our own time. Hardening copper for 

 tools is one of the lost arts; we cannot manufacture the Damascus blade, nor do 

 do we know by what means the pyramids were erected. There are very few (if 

 any) streets like one in Cordova founded 152 B. C. It was perfectly straight, 

 ten miles long and illuminated by public lamps. Paris, which is said to be the 

 best lighted city in the world, cannot surpass this wonderful street. Cordova was 

 not without rivals. Granada, founded before Augustus; Seville in its prime 590 

 B. C; Toledo taken by Maximus Flavins 193 B. C, vied with Cordova with its 

 200,000 houses and 1,000,000 inhabitants. This city of Cordova may not be a 

 fair comparison, as its decay commenced when conquered by Ferdinand III. of 

 Castile in A. D. 1236. Modern cities surpass the ancient in number rather than 

 in magnificence, 



A slight acquaintance with archaeology is sufficient to show us that the Statue 

 of Liberty Enlightening the World is a duplicate in principle of the Colossus of 

 Rhodes. The former is to be erected upon Bedloe's Island in New York Harbor, 

 in honor of fraternity between France and the United States. It is of copper and 

 the ascent to the head is made by inner stair cases. The right arm is extended, 

 grasping a torch which will illuminate the harbor by electricity. The total height 

 is 328 feet II inches, pedestal 177 feet 9 inches, leaving 151 feet 2 inches for the 

 statue. This work of art was fabricated in France under the supervision of its 

 projector, Bartholdi, who, in all probability took his idea from the Colossus of 

 Rhodes, which was also erected upon an island, 'the Rhodus, in the Mediterran- 

 ean Sea twenty miles from Lycia on the south coast of Asia. This Colossus was 

 of brass, and erected 300 B. C. in honor of Apollo. Historians tell us that the 

 height was 125 feet, "with legs distended on two moles which fromed the en- 

 trance of the harbor," said moles supposed to have been twenty feet apart, and 

 ships sailed under the body on entering the port. The statue was hollow and the 

 legs were lined with large stones to counterbalance the weight. This Colossus was 

 the workmanship of Chares a pupil of Lysippus, a celebrated sculptor of Greece. 



