DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18826#0212
jlect. 1.1 architecture. 13
J
The temple of Solomon has long since ceased;
the ploughshare of desolation has uprooted its foun-
dations: of other most superb instances of human
abilities, scarce any traces remain; the pyramids
alone, firm bv their erection, and permanent by
their form, continue to demonstrate the veracity of
those accounts which describe contemporary, or
posterior, erections.
A few temples in Greece, indeed, juft serve to
excite our melancholy reflections over fallen gran-
deur, and to relate the ravages of barbarism and
ignorance; if beside, the laborious and venturefome
architect can trace from pillar to pillar, and rrom
arch to arch, those proportions which once infused
solemnity into the spectator, or elegance into the
building, it is all the age of Pericles can boast.
And what, further can we say of the ruins of
Rome? the immense thermae of voluptuous luxury;
the noble temples of magnificent superstition; what-
ever was costly, or sumptuous; whatever was
fplendid, and exquisite, were associated in Rome:
In Rome, where we now meet with-—here and
there a temple—remaining, but changed; here and
there—an obeliik—but broken; here and there—a
portico—a pillar—a frontispiece—but mutilated and
imperfect. Triumphal arches, designed to perpe-
tuate to eternity the actions of Emperors, and of
warriors, are decaved; and consecrated Anotheosi
(attributes of Deity) are mouldered into dust; yet
enough remains to render credible the writings of
the historian, which describe these in their splen-
dour, and to excite admiration at the abilities cf
the artists who composed, and constructed them,
C 2 Mark
J
The temple of Solomon has long since ceased;
the ploughshare of desolation has uprooted its foun-
dations: of other most superb instances of human
abilities, scarce any traces remain; the pyramids
alone, firm bv their erection, and permanent by
their form, continue to demonstrate the veracity of
those accounts which describe contemporary, or
posterior, erections.
A few temples in Greece, indeed, juft serve to
excite our melancholy reflections over fallen gran-
deur, and to relate the ravages of barbarism and
ignorance; if beside, the laborious and venturefome
architect can trace from pillar to pillar, and rrom
arch to arch, those proportions which once infused
solemnity into the spectator, or elegance into the
building, it is all the age of Pericles can boast.
And what, further can we say of the ruins of
Rome? the immense thermae of voluptuous luxury;
the noble temples of magnificent superstition; what-
ever was costly, or sumptuous; whatever was
fplendid, and exquisite, were associated in Rome:
In Rome, where we now meet with-—here and
there a temple—remaining, but changed; here and
there—an obeliik—but broken; here and there—a
portico—a pillar—a frontispiece—but mutilated and
imperfect. Triumphal arches, designed to perpe-
tuate to eternity the actions of Emperors, and of
warriors, are decaved; and consecrated Anotheosi
(attributes of Deity) are mouldered into dust; yet
enough remains to render credible the writings of
the historian, which describe these in their splen-
dour, and to excite admiration at the abilities cf
the artists who composed, and constructed them,
C 2 Mark