94 
On the Geognostical Phenomena 
The number of these amounted to sixteen. Thirty-six sur- 
rounded the court, and since a statue was allotted to each, there 
must have been fifty-two of these included in this moderate space. 
Let the whole be conceived of the Corinthian order, as is proved 
by the proportions of the columns, and the cornices lying scat- 
tered about, and it will be conceived that the effect must have 
been imposing and magnificent. This must have been still 
heightened by the solid masses, as well as by the inner coating, 
being all of the finest marble; and the cells of the priests, with 
the curious chambers for purification, were all found to have 
been inlaid, paved, and fitted in the same manner. 
All these indications, and particularly the plan of the build- 
ing, attentively considered, point rather to the third than the 
second century ; but w r e are no longer able to pronounce any 
opinion grounded on the architectural ornaments, which would 
here prove most decisive. 
Yet more uncertain is the period when the Temple was buried' 
under volcanic ashes, and other ejected matter. We shall, how- 
ever, give an account, in reference to the engraving, of what is 
still to be seen, as well as what may legitimately be inferred to 
have existed. 
The first figure is a transverse section of the Temple, while 
entire. The four high columns stood in the middle of the court 
in front of the sanctuary ; farther behind is seen the court, with 
its colonnade; and, last of all, the chambers of the priests. 
It is not wonderful that the Temple came to be choked up 
at some uncertain period of the middle ages. Let any one take 
the plan of the Campi Phlegrsei, and observe crater on crater, 
and the continual succession of elevation and depression, and he 
will easily be convinced that the ground here has never been at 
rest. The Temple is only an hour and a half’s distance from 
Monte Nuovo, which, in September 1538, ascended to the height 
of 1000 feet, and only half an hour from the Solfatara, which is 
still in activity. 
The middle figure represents the cells of the priests, covered 
by the thick showers of ashes, which thus form swells or hil- 
locks, while the open court is only filled to a certain depth. 
There would thus be formed a hollow in the centre, only twelve 
feet elevated above the former level, out of which those of the 
