THE ART OF FOUNDING IN BRASS, COPPER AND BRONZE. 483 



which it must have been executed, as well as the great quantities and immense 

 castings, which would require the highest mechanical skill and knowledge. 



The two bronze pillars which were fixed up in the porch of the Temple must 

 have been splendid specimens of workmanship. Taking the cubit at the gener 

 ally-recognized measurement, 21 inches, the pillars, inclusive of the capitals, will 

 have measured over 40 feet in height and 7 feet in diameter, and the weight of 

 the metal would be from 23 tons to 28 tons. Another question arises in connec- 

 tion with these pillars : if they were hollow, as Whiston in his translation of *' Jo- 

 sephus " considers they were, it follows that the use of cores must have been 

 known and practised at this time, although this invention is ascribed to Theodorus 

 and Rhsecus of Samos at a much latter period ; but this may be only another in- 

 stance of the knowledge of certain kinds of manufacture being lost and rediscov- 

 ered at some latter period. 



In addition to these pillars, there was the Brazen or Bronze Altar, another 

 gigantic work probably weighing about- 200 tons; also the Molten Sea, an im- 

 mense semi-circular vessel measuring seventeen and a half feet in diameter and 

 eight and three-quarter feet deep, and containing 16,000 to 20,000 gallons of 

 water, supported on a pedestal of twelve bronze oxen. We get no idea from the 

 account of the size of these" castings, but they must have been of sufficient size 

 and strength to support the vessel, which, when filled with water, would weigh 

 probably 100 tons. 



In addition to these large articles, there were a large number of smaller ones, 

 -equally good in construction and workmanship ; but a full description of these 

 must be left to a further article. It is apparent that different qualities of bronze 

 were used, for some of the articles are stated "to be of bright brass," evidently 

 diff"erent mixtures of the alloy for the differing purposes. It is clear from the vast 

 size of the castings that good mechanical contrivances must have been used to 

 remove, fit up, and place them in position. 



These works were cast "in the Plain of Jordan in the clay ground," or, as 

 should be more correctly rendered, "in the depth of the clay ground between 

 Succoth and Zarthan," showing them to have been molded in clay. Such large 

 quantities of metal would require to be melted in a series of furnaces, in which 

 the metal could be fused at one time, all tapped together, and the metal let run 

 into the mold. A series of such furnaces would be constructed in a sort of a 

 circle or square, under one large dome or roof, forming a chimney or tower. 



It is most probable that such a method was adopted in those days, as we 

 find from Nehemiah iii. 11 : " Malchijah, the son of Harim, and Hashub, the 

 son of Pahath-moab, repaired the other piece and the tower of the furnaces." 

 This would refer to such a structure which, erected in the Plain of Jordan for the 

 temple works, may have continued a sort of national foundry up to the time the 

 Jews were carried captive into Babylon. And again, the restoration and conse- 

 quent rebuilding of the Temple would require the same operations, and hence 

 the repairing of the furnaces would be a necessary work. 



