DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1519#0028
HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT OF THE TEMPLE.
17
with vegetable soil which had accumulated round the mouth of the cave, and which so obstructed its entrance as
to conceal from us those recesses which Mr. Dodwell describes* It is probable that an excavation of this cave
might have led to some curious discoveries, which however neither the absorbing interest of our works on the
surface, nor the time employed in securing our prize, permitted our party to prosecute.
* Dodwell, i. 566. " There is a cavern in the rock, at the entrance of which is a frustum of a stone column of the Doric order
with forty flutings (as indeed have those of the Temple at Persepolis), and three feet and-a-half diameter. In the flat surface is seen a
round cavity, thirteen inches in diameter, and two or three inches deep, within which is a square hole, pervading the whole hlock.
I penetrated some few paces further with a candle, and creeping on my knees through a small aperture, found myself in another cave, not
more than five feet in height in its present state, and about ten feet in diameter. The roof is distinguished by a small circular aperture,
which is cut down perpendicularly, and admits the day. It is coated with a fine plaster of a most indurated quality, consisting of minute
pebbles and a yellow cement. This opening is nearly filled up with large stones, which have fallen from the contiguous temple above. It is
evident, from its form, that it was not a cistern ; but was most probably a Puraithcion, or fire-altar, mentioned by Strabo, xv. 733, which
we learn from Plutarch's life of Aristidcs was used in all the temples, and which were lighted by invisible means. When oil was poured
upon them, it burst into a flame in coming into contact with the fire kept in readiness underneath. The diameter of the perforated Doric
frustum is a little larger than the circular aperture of the cave, and was probably placed over it as an altar."
Takino- from axis to axis of the extreme columns as unity, the height of the columns and of the entablatures stands as follows :—
Corinth .
iEgina
Theseium
Nemea
Columns.
0- 353
()• 415
0- 450
0- 559
Entablature.
0
0
0
0
Taking the lower diameter of the column as unity, the projection of the capital beyond the upper
columns will stand as follows :—
171
164
156
135
diameter and the height of the
Corinth .
iEgina
Theseium
Nemea
Projection.
0- 265
0- 245
0- 175
()• 138
Height.
4- 060
5- 290
5- 600
6' 390
S
—i=P—
■■//-//
' ■ v/,'/
)"ih'.\ n///)/
A "•///,',/
\
f
y
-
f
hibV.Ki;,;: ;■: ',■',„■ V, . oTbarn.
17
with vegetable soil which had accumulated round the mouth of the cave, and which so obstructed its entrance as
to conceal from us those recesses which Mr. Dodwell describes* It is probable that an excavation of this cave
might have led to some curious discoveries, which however neither the absorbing interest of our works on the
surface, nor the time employed in securing our prize, permitted our party to prosecute.
* Dodwell, i. 566. " There is a cavern in the rock, at the entrance of which is a frustum of a stone column of the Doric order
with forty flutings (as indeed have those of the Temple at Persepolis), and three feet and-a-half diameter. In the flat surface is seen a
round cavity, thirteen inches in diameter, and two or three inches deep, within which is a square hole, pervading the whole hlock.
I penetrated some few paces further with a candle, and creeping on my knees through a small aperture, found myself in another cave, not
more than five feet in height in its present state, and about ten feet in diameter. The roof is distinguished by a small circular aperture,
which is cut down perpendicularly, and admits the day. It is coated with a fine plaster of a most indurated quality, consisting of minute
pebbles and a yellow cement. This opening is nearly filled up with large stones, which have fallen from the contiguous temple above. It is
evident, from its form, that it was not a cistern ; but was most probably a Puraithcion, or fire-altar, mentioned by Strabo, xv. 733, which
we learn from Plutarch's life of Aristidcs was used in all the temples, and which were lighted by invisible means. When oil was poured
upon them, it burst into a flame in coming into contact with the fire kept in readiness underneath. The diameter of the perforated Doric
frustum is a little larger than the circular aperture of the cave, and was probably placed over it as an altar."
Takino- from axis to axis of the extreme columns as unity, the height of the columns and of the entablatures stands as follows :—
Corinth .
iEgina
Theseium
Nemea
Columns.
0- 353
()• 415
0- 450
0- 559
Entablature.
0
0
0
0
Taking the lower diameter of the column as unity, the projection of the capital beyond the upper
columns will stand as follows :—
171
164
156
135
diameter and the height of the
Corinth .
iEgina
Theseium
Nemea
Projection.
0- 265
0- 245
0- 175
()• 138
Height.
4- 060
5- 290
5- 600
6' 390
S
—i=P—
■■//-//
' ■ v/,'/
)"ih'.\ n///)/
A "•///,',/
\
f
y
-
f
hibV.Ki;,;: ;■: ',■',„■ V, . oTbarn.