DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1519#0097
PHIGALEIA. 55
The ceiling of the peristyle consists of stone (not marble) slabs extending the whole width of the portico and
containing ten panels in each stone ; the ceiling of the posticum or opisthodomus was also in marble, highly
decorated with painting and gilding, and embracing the depth of the posticum, in nine stones, each of which
comprised four marble panels. The three patterns of the lacunaria in the north and south porticoes will be
remarked as differing from the practice of repeating the same character and pattern in other parts of the Temple
and other examples. These lacunaria were also of marble, as were the small panels of the interior ceiling of the
Ionic order.
Of the ceilings of the pronaos, the cella, and the sacrarium, not a fragment in marble or other material could
be found; and we are left to conclude that these ceilings were in wood, as being of too large a
span to attempt in a material so fragile as marble: the lines are therefore expressed in the plan by
dots only.
PLATE X.
This Plate exhibits a view of the interior of the Temple, after the excavation and the fallen fragments
from the superstructure had been removed from the cella, and portions of the frieze temporarily placed there.
The combat of a Greek and a Centaur opposite was the first to reveal the series of remarkable sculptures
which made the principal glory and reward of this fortunate labour.
During our first visit of 1811, one of the travellers observed amongst the fallen ruins of massive stones
occupying the cella, a narrow and tortuous descent sufficiently large to admit his head and shoulders, without,
however, room to turn round. Into this he descended head foremost, while his companions held him
by the legs, and secured his return, which might not otherwise have been easy. At the bottom he discovered a
fox's nest—happily not then occupied—and on removing this the Greek and the Centaur appeared in all
their energy.
Portions of the three orders employed in the interior of the metopes, the antefixes and the ceiling;
are displayed, as also are the attached columns of the cella. The position of the single column, the base
of which was still in its place, the sacrarium, the posticum, the southern portico, and the landscape to
the south, are seen beyond. The faithful dog, the rifle, and the portfolio, announce the artists as at no
great distance.
PLATE XL
Transverse section through the cella from east to west, showing the attached semi-columns of the
Ionic, the isolated Corinthian column, the sacrarium beyond, and the conjectural position of the acrolithic
statue of the Deity, opposite to the eastern doorway, at which the worshippers may be supposed to have
offered their morning sacrifice. In this Plate the Ionic volute has been restored, for reasons given in the
description of Plate XIII. The cymatium over the cornice, the arrangement of the hypsethral opening, and of the
lacunaria* over the cella, are given conjecturally. The structure of the orthostatos and the ten courses of the
cella walls at a (still existing in their original beds) are here shown ; as also the diminution of thickness in the
height of the cella walls.
* Baron Stackelberg, in his elegant publication of these marbles, places the statue in front of the isolated column of the cella, but
its exposure to the weather, rain and snow, through the Hypa3thral seems to be a serious objection against such a position. The French
artists place it behind the column in the sacrarium, thus obviating this objection ; but the magnitude of the eastern doorway leading to this
sacrarium, and the reasons already given above, suggest the placing of the statue in this position. It is also to be observed that the
subject of Apollo and Diana in the commencement of the west frieze is seen simultaneously with the statue.
The ceiling of the peristyle consists of stone (not marble) slabs extending the whole width of the portico and
containing ten panels in each stone ; the ceiling of the posticum or opisthodomus was also in marble, highly
decorated with painting and gilding, and embracing the depth of the posticum, in nine stones, each of which
comprised four marble panels. The three patterns of the lacunaria in the north and south porticoes will be
remarked as differing from the practice of repeating the same character and pattern in other parts of the Temple
and other examples. These lacunaria were also of marble, as were the small panels of the interior ceiling of the
Ionic order.
Of the ceilings of the pronaos, the cella, and the sacrarium, not a fragment in marble or other material could
be found; and we are left to conclude that these ceilings were in wood, as being of too large a
span to attempt in a material so fragile as marble: the lines are therefore expressed in the plan by
dots only.
PLATE X.
This Plate exhibits a view of the interior of the Temple, after the excavation and the fallen fragments
from the superstructure had been removed from the cella, and portions of the frieze temporarily placed there.
The combat of a Greek and a Centaur opposite was the first to reveal the series of remarkable sculptures
which made the principal glory and reward of this fortunate labour.
During our first visit of 1811, one of the travellers observed amongst the fallen ruins of massive stones
occupying the cella, a narrow and tortuous descent sufficiently large to admit his head and shoulders, without,
however, room to turn round. Into this he descended head foremost, while his companions held him
by the legs, and secured his return, which might not otherwise have been easy. At the bottom he discovered a
fox's nest—happily not then occupied—and on removing this the Greek and the Centaur appeared in all
their energy.
Portions of the three orders employed in the interior of the metopes, the antefixes and the ceiling;
are displayed, as also are the attached columns of the cella. The position of the single column, the base
of which was still in its place, the sacrarium, the posticum, the southern portico, and the landscape to
the south, are seen beyond. The faithful dog, the rifle, and the portfolio, announce the artists as at no
great distance.
PLATE XL
Transverse section through the cella from east to west, showing the attached semi-columns of the
Ionic, the isolated Corinthian column, the sacrarium beyond, and the conjectural position of the acrolithic
statue of the Deity, opposite to the eastern doorway, at which the worshippers may be supposed to have
offered their morning sacrifice. In this Plate the Ionic volute has been restored, for reasons given in the
description of Plate XIII. The cymatium over the cornice, the arrangement of the hypsethral opening, and of the
lacunaria* over the cella, are given conjecturally. The structure of the orthostatos and the ten courses of the
cella walls at a (still existing in their original beds) are here shown ; as also the diminution of thickness in the
height of the cella walls.
* Baron Stackelberg, in his elegant publication of these marbles, places the statue in front of the isolated column of the cella, but
its exposure to the weather, rain and snow, through the Hypa3thral seems to be a serious objection against such a position. The French
artists place it behind the column in the sacrarium, thus obviating this objection ; but the magnitude of the eastern doorway leading to this
sacrarium, and the reasons already given above, suggest the placing of the statue in this position. It is also to be observed that the
subject of Apollo and Diana in the commencement of the west frieze is seen simultaneously with the statue.