288 



On the Orientation of Greek Temples. 



placed between the pots, and the watts and temperature gradients 

 were determined in the manner described. At least two tests of each 

 material were made, the mean temperature throughout being about 40° 

 centigrade. The results are given in the table (p. 287). 



It will be noticed that hair felt was the best insulator that was tested. 

 The insulation in the case of brown paper was practically that of air 

 with subdivided spaces, as the paper occupied relatively a small volume : 

 a comparison of this with insulation by air only will show how great 

 an improvement in air-lagging such a simple expedient will give. 



In repeating the experiments with wider ranges and a higher mean 

 temperature, indications were observed tending to show that the con- 

 ductivity is a function of the temperature. It is hoped to continue 

 the investigation as regards this point, and to extend it to other insu- 

 lators. 



" On the Orientation of Greek Temples, being the Eesults of some 

 Observations taken in Greece and Sicily, in May, 1898." By 

 F. C. Penrose, M.A., F.E.S. Eeceived May 5, — Eead June 

 15, 1899. 



(Abstract.) 



The orientation of the Cabeirion Temple, near Thebes, of which the 

 angle has been disputed (see p. 46 in my paper of 1897), was re- 

 measured with the theodolite in May, 1898, and the previous observa- 

 tions confirmed. An additional example is added from an archaic- 

 Temple of Neptune in the Isle of Poros, introducing the employment 

 of the bright zodiacal star Eegulus, which I had not before met with. 



In Sicily the re-examination of the temples at Girgenti, where, in 

 my former visit, I had relied for azimuth on the sun's shadow and the 

 time, has enabled me to give to the elements some amendments in 

 detail, the only point of consequence being, that the orientation date 

 of the temple named Juno Lacinia is brought within the period of 

 the Hellenic colonisation of that city. 



The most interesting point in the paper seems to be, that in the 

 case of two Athenian temples, namely the Theseum and the later 

 Erechtheum — i.e., the temple now partially standing — it is shown that 

 the days of those months on which the sunrise, heralded by the star, 

 illuminated the sanctuary, coincided exactly, on certain years of the 

 Metonic cycle, with the days of the Athenian lunar months on which 

 three important festivals known to be connected with at least one of 

 those temples were held. The years so determined agree remarkably 

 well with the probable dates of the dedication of those temples ; and 

 in the case of the first mentioned, the festival, which was named The 

 Thesea, seems to leave little doubt that the traditional name of the 

 temple, which has recently been much disputed, is the correct one. 



