DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18733#0158
t 128 ]
Perhaps I ought not to have used the word co-
lumn as descriptive of these supports; they were
probably mere beams placed upright, and, it
may be, rough as the trees which furnished
them perhaps too the idea of a capital as an
ornament might be suggested by an additional
block to render some one of them of sufficient
length : and thus might some happy genius,
impressed with the beauty of uniformity, and
pleased with the appearance of a head-piece,
unite by rule what before was the effect of
chance, and originate the idea of what \ve
now term an order.
I consess this appears to me, to be as likely
an account of that strange peculiarity in the
Doric order, (undoubtedly the most ancient)
that of having no base, but in the most early
specimens os it, always going (trait into the
ground, as the commonly received supposition
of its resemblance to the human frame; which
can be satisfadtory only to those who imagine
that column was anciently without feet.
We have thus trod the fir st steps in this
enquiry, and have traced the progress of archi-
tedture to the eredtion of a covered house for
worship : I know not how far I may trespass,
by calling your attention to those temples
which were not covered ; but as this particular
is
Perhaps I ought not to have used the word co-
lumn as descriptive of these supports; they were
probably mere beams placed upright, and, it
may be, rough as the trees which furnished
them perhaps too the idea of a capital as an
ornament might be suggested by an additional
block to render some one of them of sufficient
length : and thus might some happy genius,
impressed with the beauty of uniformity, and
pleased with the appearance of a head-piece,
unite by rule what before was the effect of
chance, and originate the idea of what \ve
now term an order.
I consess this appears to me, to be as likely
an account of that strange peculiarity in the
Doric order, (undoubtedly the most ancient)
that of having no base, but in the most early
specimens os it, always going (trait into the
ground, as the commonly received supposition
of its resemblance to the human frame; which
can be satisfadtory only to those who imagine
that column was anciently without feet.
We have thus trod the fir st steps in this
enquiry, and have traced the progress of archi-
tedture to the eredtion of a covered house for
worship : I know not how far I may trespass,
by calling your attention to those temples
which were not covered ; but as this particular
is