DOI Artikel:
Brownson, Carleton L.: [Excavations and discoveries at the Argive Heraeum, 1892-1895]
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8681#0250
238 EXCAVATIONS AT THE ARG1VE HERJEUM IN 1892.
last one in the southern line is not only .30 m. too near its neigh-
bor, but is different from the rest in construction. It seems prob-
able, therefore, that there were only five on each side, and that
the cella consequently is symmetrical with respect to the centre-
line mentioned. Its length, then, is twice the distance from the
eastern end to the centre, that is, 11.60 m. What I have called
the sixth base was probably a part of the wall dividing cella from
posticum. It corresponds exactly in breadth and is very nearly
symmetrical in position with the wall between pronaos and
cella. Ample room is left within the limits so defined for a
posticum, though it would be, as is often the case, shallower than
the pronaos.
The cella structure thus probably had the form of a double
temple in antis. This type is far more common than the amphi-
prostyle type; besides the latter would not require a continuous
foundation for an end-wall, such as we found to exist, but would
more probably be provided for by single detached piers.
It will be seen from the various dimensions which have been
given that the temple was by no means a large one, smaller in
fact than one might expect so famous a foundation as the ITeraeum
of Argos to be. It is, nevertheless, large in comparison with
most temples of Greece proper, if the chief buildings at Athens
and Olympia are excepted. For example, it is more than five
metres longer on the stylobate than the " Theseum."
It is impossible to do more in the way of reconstruction with
what we found than to determine the ground-plan. I have already
alluded to the discovery of one capital of a column. This is of
the Doric order, with twenty channels. The curve of the
echinus is extremely graceful, the vertical and horizontal dimen-
sions of section being respectively .169 m. and .124 m. Besides
this capital only two column-drums were found.
Enough has been said to show what the history of the temple
must have been in the Middle Ages. A more thorough and sys
tematie plundering than it suffered could not be imagined. Not
only was everything above ground taken, but the very foundations
were carried away. It may well be that we did not find the up-
permost course of the stereobate at all; indeed the stereobate as
we did find it was two courses lower at the western than at the
last one in the southern line is not only .30 m. too near its neigh-
bor, but is different from the rest in construction. It seems prob-
able, therefore, that there were only five on each side, and that
the cella consequently is symmetrical with respect to the centre-
line mentioned. Its length, then, is twice the distance from the
eastern end to the centre, that is, 11.60 m. What I have called
the sixth base was probably a part of the wall dividing cella from
posticum. It corresponds exactly in breadth and is very nearly
symmetrical in position with the wall between pronaos and
cella. Ample room is left within the limits so defined for a
posticum, though it would be, as is often the case, shallower than
the pronaos.
The cella structure thus probably had the form of a double
temple in antis. This type is far more common than the amphi-
prostyle type; besides the latter would not require a continuous
foundation for an end-wall, such as we found to exist, but would
more probably be provided for by single detached piers.
It will be seen from the various dimensions which have been
given that the temple was by no means a large one, smaller in
fact than one might expect so famous a foundation as the ITeraeum
of Argos to be. It is, nevertheless, large in comparison with
most temples of Greece proper, if the chief buildings at Athens
and Olympia are excepted. For example, it is more than five
metres longer on the stylobate than the " Theseum."
It is impossible to do more in the way of reconstruction with
what we found than to determine the ground-plan. I have already
alluded to the discovery of one capital of a column. This is of
the Doric order, with twenty channels. The curve of the
echinus is extremely graceful, the vertical and horizontal dimen-
sions of section being respectively .169 m. and .124 m. Besides
this capital only two column-drums were found.
Enough has been said to show what the history of the temple
must have been in the Middle Ages. A more thorough and sys
tematie plundering than it suffered could not be imagined. Not
only was everything above ground taken, but the very foundations
were carried away. It may well be that we did not find the up-
permost course of the stereobate at all; indeed the stereobate as
we did find it was two courses lower at the western than at the