DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18826#0211
10 ARCHITECTURE. [lECT. I.
some brute animal. On each side of the anti-
temple are what they call wings; these are two
walls of equal height with the temple, at first distant
from each other a little more than the breadth of the
foundation of the temple; afterwards, as you ad-
vance farther, they incline towards each other fifty
or sixty cubits. Thefe walls have sculptures of
great images resembling extremely the Tufcan and
ancient works among the Grecians." Strabo,
page 805.
But, as some specific instance may impart 3 et
clearer ideas of the /extent of thefe buildings; I
shall select from Herodotus his description of the
temple of Bubastis in Egypt.
The approach to it was by a road, which sepa-
rating two canals, had the appearai«ee of an island;
each canal being one hundred feet wide, and reach-
ins- from the Nile to the front ot the edifice. The
gates which formed the first entry were sixty feet
high, and the size of their ornamental figures six
cubits. The inclosure contained a wood of sacred
trees, very high, planted around the body of the
temple, wherein was the statue of the Goddefs;
each side of the inclosure being a furlong in length,
Near the entry was a high road, paved, conducting
to the public square, and bordered on each side by
lofty trees, aspiring to the sky.
The magnificence of the temple of Solomon, I
need not repeat, because it is a subject with which
we all are familiar; but when we consider the
happy coincidence of riches, skill, and devotional
resolution, which distinguished its erector, we need
not doubt of the extreme magnificence of Solo-
mon's sacred edifice.
some brute animal. On each side of the anti-
temple are what they call wings; these are two
walls of equal height with the temple, at first distant
from each other a little more than the breadth of the
foundation of the temple; afterwards, as you ad-
vance farther, they incline towards each other fifty
or sixty cubits. Thefe walls have sculptures of
great images resembling extremely the Tufcan and
ancient works among the Grecians." Strabo,
page 805.
But, as some specific instance may impart 3 et
clearer ideas of the /extent of thefe buildings; I
shall select from Herodotus his description of the
temple of Bubastis in Egypt.
The approach to it was by a road, which sepa-
rating two canals, had the appearai«ee of an island;
each canal being one hundred feet wide, and reach-
ins- from the Nile to the front ot the edifice. The
gates which formed the first entry were sixty feet
high, and the size of their ornamental figures six
cubits. The inclosure contained a wood of sacred
trees, very high, planted around the body of the
temple, wherein was the statue of the Goddefs;
each side of the inclosure being a furlong in length,
Near the entry was a high road, paved, conducting
to the public square, and bordered on each side by
lofty trees, aspiring to the sky.
The magnificence of the temple of Solomon, I
need not repeat, because it is a subject with which
we all are familiar; but when we consider the
happy coincidence of riches, skill, and devotional
resolution, which distinguished its erector, we need
not doubt of the extreme magnificence of Solo-
mon's sacred edifice.