Rudiments of ancient architecture, containing an historical account of the five orders, with their proportions, and examples of each from antiques also, extracts from Vitruvius, Pliny, &c. relative to the buildings of the ancients (London, 1810 (4. Aufl.))

ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE. 21

Athens, the height of the columns does
not exceed four diameters, or at most four
and a half: the low appearance of these
in large buildings, must surely convince us
solidity of construction was regarded more
than elegance of design. Indeed the vari-
ous examples of the Doric order of these
massive proportions, prove this to be the
order of columns first used in buildings of
stone.

Though the Tuscan pillar is more plain
in the ornaments, and, as now practised,
of fewer diameters ; yet, as we have nei-
ther example, nor authority, on which to
suppose it ever much varied from the rules
at present acknowledged, I think we may
conclude it is no other than the Doric
order, by being executed plainer (as before
observed), adapted to more menial services
by the inhabitants of Tuscany.

The Doric order, (which is no small
mark of its antiquity), has experienced
many great changes in its proportions and
parts, originally very low, as before re-
marked ; afterwards it was allowed six
diameters, and in succeeding times eight.

The history of the Doric qrder may be