OF THE ORIENTATIONS OF A NUMBER OF OREEK TEMPLES. 
817 
Megalopolis. Lat. 37° 25'. 
Name of Temple. 
Orientation 
angle. 
Stellar 
elements. 
Solar 
elements. 
Name of 
Star. 
Temple of Jupiter 
279° 42' 28" 
A 
Amplitude of Star or 
+ 9° 42' 28" 
-9° 42' 28" 
a Arietis, 
Soter 
Sun 
setting 
B 
Corresponding altitude 
.3° 20' W. 
3° 10' E. 
C 
Declination .... 
+ 9° 43' 5.3" 
-5° 26' 40" 
D 
Hour angles .... 
6 ’’ 13“ 8® 
6 >' 46“ 37® 
E 
Deoression of Sun when 
12° 30' 
Star was heliacal 
F 
R.A. 
23i> 50“ 
12 U 49“ 45® 
G 
Approximate date . 
B.C. 605, October 6 
Argos. Lat. 37° 41' 13". 
Name of Temple. 
Orientation 
angle. 
Stellar 
elements. 
Solar 
elements. 
Name of 
Star. 
Herseum Temple 
A 
Amplitude of Star or 
-15° 41'1.3" 
-15° 59'20" 
Constella- 
of Juno.—The 
Sun 
tion 
later Temple 
B 
Corresponding altitude 
3 ° E. 
2° .30' E. 
Aquarius, 
close to the site 
285° 59' 20" 
C 
Declination .... 
-10° 28' 
-11° 1' 12" 
^ Aquarii, 
of the earlier 
D 
Hour angles .... 
5'^ 11“ 39® 
7h 5m 15s 
rising 
(For latter, see 
E 
Depression of Sun when 
19° 34' 
p. 833). 
Star was heliacal 
F 
R.A. 
20 i» 21“ 58® 
22h 15“ 34® 
G 
Approximate date . 
B.C. 425, February 21 
It will be noticed that the amplitudes given amongst the solar elements of the 
above list in the majority of cases agree exactly with the temple s orientation, but that 
ill a few cases—and in Athenian temples only*—a somewhat more northerly amplitude 
has been taken. This has been adopted from finding that if the exact orientation 
angle had been used the Sun’s depression would not have been sufficient to allow the 
stars to be sufficiently well observed, but that if the Sun had risen in a line with the 
northern jamb of the eastern doorway or columnar opening of the peristyle (a devia¬ 
tion of which the amount can be fairly well defined), not only could the solar and 
stellar elements be harmonized, but it would have had the advantage also of giving a 
longer arc of solar illumination on the statue. 
As an example of the way by which the elements given in the list have been 
arrived at, I will give a sketch of the method used in one particular case, viz., that of 
* That is not reckoning the late example at Olympia (the Metroum), and the vei’y doubtful case of 
Tegea when, as in its place in the list, referred to Spica. 
MDCCCXCIII.—A. 5 M 
