ROMAN PERIOD
345
structed a wall of gable form which corresponded to the pediments of the fagade and
rear, and carried the inner ends of long roofing slabs, as is shown in M. de Laborde’s
plate. The rear and side walls were perfectly plain, unrelieved even by pilasters up to
the level of the architrave, where the ornament of the fa$ade was probably, though not
certainly, repeated. The walls are two stones in thickness, and are highly finished
without and within.
The fagade consisted of two graceful
columns of the Corinthian order, stand-
ing between two antas with Corinthian
caps and moldings. Each column and
each anta bore upon its outer face and
about half-way up a bracket of rectan-
gular form, molded above and below,
which was undoubtedly intended for
the support of a bust or statue. An
architrave, not banded, but richly
carved with the Greek fret inter-
spersed with rosettes, was supported
between the antae and the columns;
but between the columns a semicircular
arch was built which bore the carvings
of the architrave upon its face. The
architrave was finished above with a carved molding, and above this ran a frieze
ornamented with a foliate scroll pattern in high relief. How the entablature was
completed must remain a matter of speculation, for no fragments of a cornice,
denticulated or with consoles, are to be found in the ruins in their present state.
The carved ornament of the temple is concentrated upon the front wall within the
pronaos. The doorway is flanked by tall panels, adorned with rich rinceaux of grape-
vine, and resting upon bases like pilaster bases, raised upon plain pedestals. Outside
of these panels is a narrow strip of plain wall on either side. At this point the wall
is broken out slightly, and the angle is occupied by a quarter-column with narrow
flutings. Then comes another pair of panels, similar in form to the inner pair, but
ornamented with rinceaux of running acanthus pattern. The lower niche on either
side is of rectangular form and section, and is ornamented with a meander band
within a frame of delicate moldings, the jambs terminating upon the upper moldings
of a narrow horizontal panel which may have been intended to receive an inscription
for a statue in the niche. The upper niches are tall, and semicircular in section,
terminating above in a conch. The sides and top are adorned with a broad band
of guilloche ornament between slender moldings. This much may be seen in Baron
von Oppenheim’s illustration of the w rest temple and in my photograph of the north
Fig. 121. Temples at ‘Atil, restoration of fa^ade.
345
structed a wall of gable form which corresponded to the pediments of the fagade and
rear, and carried the inner ends of long roofing slabs, as is shown in M. de Laborde’s
plate. The rear and side walls were perfectly plain, unrelieved even by pilasters up to
the level of the architrave, where the ornament of the fa$ade was probably, though not
certainly, repeated. The walls are two stones in thickness, and are highly finished
without and within.
The fagade consisted of two graceful
columns of the Corinthian order, stand-
ing between two antas with Corinthian
caps and moldings. Each column and
each anta bore upon its outer face and
about half-way up a bracket of rectan-
gular form, molded above and below,
which was undoubtedly intended for
the support of a bust or statue. An
architrave, not banded, but richly
carved with the Greek fret inter-
spersed with rosettes, was supported
between the antae and the columns;
but between the columns a semicircular
arch was built which bore the carvings
of the architrave upon its face. The
architrave was finished above with a carved molding, and above this ran a frieze
ornamented with a foliate scroll pattern in high relief. How the entablature was
completed must remain a matter of speculation, for no fragments of a cornice,
denticulated or with consoles, are to be found in the ruins in their present state.
The carved ornament of the temple is concentrated upon the front wall within the
pronaos. The doorway is flanked by tall panels, adorned with rich rinceaux of grape-
vine, and resting upon bases like pilaster bases, raised upon plain pedestals. Outside
of these panels is a narrow strip of plain wall on either side. At this point the wall
is broken out slightly, and the angle is occupied by a quarter-column with narrow
flutings. Then comes another pair of panels, similar in form to the inner pair, but
ornamented with rinceaux of running acanthus pattern. The lower niche on either
side is of rectangular form and section, and is ornamented with a meander band
within a frame of delicate moldings, the jambs terminating upon the upper moldings
of a narrow horizontal panel which may have been intended to receive an inscription
for a statue in the niche. The upper niches are tall, and semicircular in section,
terminating above in a conch. The sides and top are adorned with a broad band
of guilloche ornament between slender moldings. This much may be seen in Baron
von Oppenheim’s illustration of the w rest temple and in my photograph of the north
Fig. 121. Temples at ‘Atil, restoration of fa^ade.