PART III. ARCHITECTURE. 87 



style, has totally destroyed that beautiful simplicity which, as 

 we have seen, was formerly its genuine characteristic. 



But it was reserved for the Romans to complete the corrup- 

 tion of this style of architecture. They raised many stories 

 above each other, and piled column above column, and stuck 

 them upon the outsides of walls, frequently to such a height 

 that they seemed in danger of falling. With them, columns 

 might be applied upon every occasion, as the whim or caprice 

 of the architect deemed fit. Sometimes these columns were 

 merely attached to the wall (what we call three quarter- co- 

 lumns), and might occasionally be of some advantage by 

 throwing shadows, which is still however mere ornament ; but 

 at other times they were half sunk into it, where they produced 

 scarcely any shadow, and thus could neither be ornamental nor 

 useful. Pilasters also, which probably were originally square 

 columns placed in slender walls, in order to give them strength, 

 or to support the roof, were imitated by shewing their supposed 

 projections from the wall ; a practice which in general, and 

 particularly in all stone buildings, had so little the appearance 

 of utility, and produced so little shade, as neither gave effect 

 by its variety, nor fitness by its strength or apparent solidity. 

 These remarks, which may be said to characterize the second 

 variety of the temple style, are very applicable to most of the 

 Roman amphitheatres, baths, and temples. 



