Cockerell, Charles Robert: The temples of Jupiter Panhellenius at Aegina and of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae near Phigaleia in Arcadia: to which is add a memoir of the systems of proportion employed in the original design of these structures (London, 1860)

DETAILS OF THE TEMPLE.

21

In the doorway of this Temple (8', 5"75 by 15', 8"-55) a step, with a handsome moulding round the bottom,
carried an architrave and linings of another material, possibly in simple slabs of marble, forming a complete casing
of the opening, the profile of which step, and indications of the keys or dowels attaching this lining were still
plainly discernible. The doorway in the wall of the Pronaos, equally high with the order,* was covered with
a lintel of one great stone, the largest in the Temple: it was 13 feet 8 inches long,f and of about eight tons
in weight. The raising and placing of these gigantic blocks required great skill, and possibly gave occasion to
those fables related by Pliny and Vitruvius, respecting the elevating of such lintels upon the gateways, which
appear to have been paramount features of the Pagan Temple.

The paving of the Pronaos, as also that of the nave of the Temple, was covered with an indurated stucco, of a
deep red colour, calculated to absorb the blood of victims without showing any stain. In the Pronaos was found
the inscription seen below, giving a list of the sacred utensils in the care of the priests and belonging to the
Temple.^ A painted fascia (see Plate IX. Fig. 1.) surrounded both the exterior and the interior of the

* See Plates V. and VII. t The exact dimensions are 13 ft. 8|- in., by 2 ft. lOf in.

\ The inscription (which is very like that mentioned by Chandler, as having been found in the Acropolis at Athens), is as follows :—

<E:||:ilAHPlAH*0rHi.:lir

KAPKINA-llXYMNAtA

AEESAAEirTPONifiKlfc

OTOI: HI: 1K PI APEP I TO El

AOZENTEAHGPONOiil

Al<£POilMePA':illh'0PON

O2MlKP0l:l:KAINHlMl

KPA:l:.BAGPONANAKAll

iliNEXONiliKlBHTfAMIK

APAillliBAGPONYrOKPAT

HP:l:ON:l:KIBftTIONrAA

TYiliENTaiAMcpihTOAEl
A':l:TAAEXAAKil:.ON0EPM
ANTHPIONiliXEPONiliPT
PON:|:(f>IAAA:ll:TEAEKY£:.l:.

J)

OXAOliliMAXAIPIAtflli

■MINAilJ-XAAKIONEU
\'OTHP!ON:I:APY£TIXO

£:i:H0MOl:I:

X

Col. Leake has favoured the writer with the following observations on this inscription : " The part deficient at the beginning, probably-
contained a list of utensils in brass and iron, those in the latter metal ending with two chains, four iron window bars and two hooks."
It proceeds, " The following are of wood : one box for containing perfumes (i£<i\enrrpov) ; three chests (Ki/3wrot) ; the rails (lKpia) round
the base of the statue complete ; one throne (epovos) ; one chair (btypos) ; four benches or stools (j3a6pa) ; one small throne (qp6vos o-piKpos);

one small couch (jcAun?) ; one bench with a back (j3&0pov dwUXioroi/) ; one........; three small boxes (Kip<&ria pwcpd) ; one

base or stand for a crater (fiaQpov viroKpa.T7ipi.ov) ; one small broad chest (klj3J)tiov -rrXaTv) in the Amphipoleium (the vestry or apartment at the
back). The following are of brass : one vessel for heating water (6(PpavTJjpiov) ; one wash-hand bason (xepovmrpov) ; two bowls {<\>i6.\r>) ; one
axe (irAeKvs) ; one bolt (mo'x^os) ; three knives (p.axa(pia), and also two of wood; one brazen vase for washing (xorripiov) ; one spoon
(apvo-Tix°s) > one strainer (t)0p.6s)."

It is observable that the dialect of the above inscription is Attic, not the Doric used by the JEginetans. From this it would seem
that at the time when it was engraved, the Temple must have been in the hands of the old enemies of iEgina, the Athenians, and
consequently anterior to the overthrow of Athens and her expulsion from iEgina, B.C. 403. The use of O for T seems to indicate a date
anterior to the archonship of Euclides : but on other hand we find the H and O, so that the inscription must be subsequent to and
probably near about, the transition from one alphabet to the other. In Athens, it is probable that the authorities were more strict than
elsewhere in adhering to the old characters in public documents, until the new were actually enforced by public authority. Hence this
monument may be several years anterior to B.C. 404, and cannot well have been later than that date, when, as we know, the exiled
./Eginetans returned to their island.