BABBAGE ON THE TEMPLE OF SERAPIS. 201 



up this fragment was covered up, and when the whole subsided into 

 the sea, the part on the higher ground became immersed and perfo- 

 rated all over. 



The fragment (par. 15) must have been standing on the central or 

 elevated part of the temple when the great incrustation was formed, 

 because — 



ft. in. 



Height of top of deposit from base 3 11 



Height of base 1 4? 



Height of central part of temple 3 7 



8 10 



which is the height of the great deposit. On the other hand, its top 

 reaches 7 feet above the lowest perforations of the Modiolae ; for — 



ft. in. 



Height of fragment 12 6 



Height of its base 1 4 



Height of central part of temple 3 7 



Height of fragment above floor of temple when standing. . 17 5 

 Lowest perforation 10 4 



7 1 



It would appear, since 7 feet 1 inch of the height of this column 

 must have been under water, that its upper part ought to have been 

 perforated, which was not the case. It follows, therefore, either that, 

 prior to the subsidence below the level of the sea, this central part 

 of the temple was filled up to the depth of nearly 18 feet, whilst the 

 surrounding part was not filled above 11 feet — an improbable sup- 

 position — or that after the great incrustation the temple must have 

 been overthrown prior to its subsidence, and probably before the 

 second filling up. 



74. This is further confirmed by the fragment described in par. 24, 

 which is of the same length. Being of African breccia it must have 

 stood on the central part, and its top must have been at the same 

 height above the floor of the temple as that of par. 15. It is perfo- 

 rated, and at the broken end, and therefore cou\d7iot have been wholly 

 covered up prior to the subsidence of the temple into the sea. 



If it had been thrown down after that event, the whole length 

 would have been perforated, which was not the case. 



75. The next fact which presents itself is an appearance of dis- 

 integration on ten of the columns or fragments, which is not always 

 accompanied with perforations of the Modiolee. Whether this arose 

 from a shower of hot ashes or from the subsequent irruption of the 

 sea, or whether there are sufficient indications of its existence as 

 distinct from the perforations, is perhaps still a matter of some doubt. 



76. The next fact which presents itself in ascending from the 

 floor of the temple, is, the remarkable perforations in the three co- 

 lumns that remain standing, which have fixed the attention of natu- 

 ralists and geologists. 



