ARCHITECTURE. 27 
(fig. 18, @), whilst the following gradually become smaller to the top of the 
flight. 
It would appear that none of all these views are entirely satisfactory. A 
better explanation of the whole subject seems to be afforded by the latest 
discoveries in re-surveying the Parthenon and the temple of Theseus in 
Athens. It was there found that the steps upon which the columns rest are 
slightly convex towards the centre, both in front and on the top, and the 
different blocks of which the columns are composed are not put together in 
horizontal joints, but are a little out of level so as to give the columns a 
slight inward inclination. The upper surface of the top block is again 
placed in exact level, in order to offer support to the architrave. This 
arrangement seems to serve the same optical purpose as the slight convexity 
of the surface noticed in the Egyptian obelisks. 
The object of architectural mouldings generally is, either to separate the large 
masses of a building, or to form a connexion between the several distinct 
parts, and to protect by their projection the plane surfaces and recesses of 
the buildings. The mouldings are either straight or curved. Among the 
former we distinguish: 1. The fascza or stripe, a continuous even surface 
projecting from the main surface, and whose height must not exceed 4 to $ 
diameter of a column. 2. The tenza or fillet, similar to the fascia, but only 
half its height. 38. The guadra or socle, which is very narrow, and is called 
the swperciliwm or slab, if it is at the uppermost moulding, or the cover. 
4. The face or slanting plane, which connects two perpendicular surfaces in 
a diagonal line. 
The curved mouldings exhibit a greater variety, viz. 1. The torus or cushion, 
which is nearly a semi-cylinder, somewhat pressed out at the lower edge. 
2. The echinus or ovolo, which exhibits a curved outline nearly the reverse 
of the torus, being more swelled at the upper edge. It is an independent. 
supporting member, whilst the torus serves as an assistant to other mouldings. 
3. The guadrans or cavetto, whose outline is a quarter of a circle. 4. The 
astragalus or bead, which is a very narrow moulding of a semicircular out- 
line, and generally serves to separate the capital from the main column. 
5. The striw or flutes, which are concave mouldings, whose outlines are 
segments of a circle, rarely a semicircle; they are wrought in columns or 
pillars, connecting the bases and capitals; on columns they are generally 
narrower at the top; sometimes the flutes are separated by ridges (sériges). 
6. The cymatium doricwm or wave, whose profile is a concave quadrant ; 
it is applied either erect or reversed; in the former case, the curve projects 
from the main surface, whilst in the latter it recedes. 7. The trochylus or 
scotia, similar to the last, but not exactly a quadrant, being composed of 
two different segments (pl. 20, fig.14). Itis applied both erect and reversed. 
8. The apophygis or quirked moulding, a small acute channel or recess 
used between mouldings; the reverse, or the projection, is called apothesis. 
9. The cyma lesbicum, or bell moulding, a combination of a concave and a 
convex quadrant; it is applied erect or reversed; in the former case the 
upper half projects, in the latter it recedes. 
The different mouldings were in earlier times decorated with painted 
27 
