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. 51

that every nation has some worship or ce-
remonies, by which they shew their de-
pendance on, and reverence of a Deity,
whose purity of nature requires distinct
places for religious services, attended by
every mark of awe and respect, best suited
to express their ideas of reverence and sub-
mission to Omnipotent Power.

Mankind in the rudest state ever ac-
knowledged powers divine. The earliest
writers, sacred and profane, describe them
performing their religious services on the
top of mountains, or elevated places ;
thereby making the nearest possible ap-
proach to heaven, and believing their
prayers would be more readily heard. In
the sacred writings, there are various in-
stances of elevated situations being pre-
ferred ; and the same appears evidently
to have prevailed among the heathens;
for at Rome, Athens, &c. the most sa-
cred temples are on the most elevated situ-
ations.

In Homer, among other instances, the
piety of Hector is commended by Jupiter,
for the many sacrifices made by him, on
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