DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4327#0057
THE SMINTHIUM.
DESCRIPTION OF PLATES.
Plate XXVI.
Plan of the Temple.
Though far from being entitled, from its dimensions, to
rank among the first class of Grecian temples, the Smin-
thium is a fair average example of the medium class, in so
far as size is concerned. It is rather smaller than the
temple of Diana Leucophryne at Magnesia {ante, p. 15),
but is considerably larger than the temples at Priene and
Teos. It measures on the upper step 132 feet 8 inches
by 68 feet 4 inches, but the value of these dimensions is
considerably enhanced by the addition of a stylobate of
ten steps, like that on which the temple at Ephesus was
raised, which must have added very much to the archi-
tectural effect of the whole. Its greatest interest, however,
lies in the fact that it is the most perfect specimen yet
published of the pseudo-dipteral arrangement of Vitruvius
[ante, p. 16).l As the pillars are less than 9 feet apart,
from centre to centre, there could be no difficulty in finding
epistylia of sufficient strength—■ which was the danger
Vitruvius feared; but, as the distance between the columns
and the walls of the cella is 16 feet, requiring lacunaria of
nearly 20 feet in length, it is more than probable that the
ceiling of the pteroma was wholly in wood, and this would
be, in fact, the real defect of the pseudo-dipteral arrange-
ment. In other respects its spaciousness and elegance have
very much to recommend it, and go far towards compen-
sating for the feebleness which, it is to be feared, is charac-
teristic of the pseudo-dipteral arrangement.
The naos at Priene is very similar in its arrangement
to the Sminthium, and even a little longer, but, owing to
the different arrangement of the peristyle, the whole area
of the Sminthium is considerably in excess, that at Priene
only measuring on the first step 7,816 feet, against 9,813
feet of the Sminthium. Whether the extended dimensions
are or are not a gain, in an architectural sense, is difficult
to decide. The Greeks, generally, seem to have preferred
the more compact arrangement, and their decision on such
a subject must be considered as final when expressed with
sufficient distinctness.
Plates XXVII. and XXVIII.
Elevation of the Front and Flank.
The front and flank elevations of the Sminthium exhibit
all the elegance that characterizes the plan of the temple, but
display the same comparative feebleness of design which,
it is to be feared, is inherent in the pseudo-dipteral arrange-
ment. »
It is hardly in conformity with the principles of Greek
architecture that the stylobate should consist of a simple
pyramid of steps, as shown in the engraving. It is more
probable that their length was broken up by pedestals at
the angles, or by terrace-like masses on the flanks, as was,
1 Vitruv. Prcef. vii.—" Postea Silenus de synimetriis Doricorum edidit
volumen . . . . de fano Minerva? quod est Prien» Ionicuin, Phileos;......
Hermogenes de aide Diana; lonica qua; est Magnesia; pseudodipteros, et
Liberi Patris Teo monopteros."
more probably, the case at Ephesus, where a similar flight
of ten steps existed (ante, p. 12). Nothing, however, was
found in the excavations to explain how this was done—if
done at all. It has, consequently, been considered safer
to engrave them as perfectly plain, and give only their
dimensions, 8 feet 1\ inches in height by 12 feet 3 inches
in breadth, which seem to have been correctly ascertained.
In like manner, although it was ascertained from the
discovery of the fragments, described by Mr. Pullan in his
Report (ante, p. 46), that the frieze was adorned with reliefs,
on the fronts at least, if not on the flanks also, these
sculptures were so indistinct that the subject could not well
be made out, and it has, therefore, been thought better to
omit them in the engraving. In attempting, however, to
realize the original design of the temple it must be borne
in mind that a sculptured frieze did once exist. If it
were now added and the stylobate broken up by pedestal
and perpendicular masses, and adorned with statues, the
design of the temple would lose much of that meagreness
with which, from its appearance on the plate, it may,
perhaps, be only too justly reproached.
Plate XXIX.
Details of the Order.
The whole design of the order is of singular elegance,
being sufficiently rich without being overloaded in any
part, and every detail well designed, and appropriate. To
modern eyes it may appear that it would have been better
if the lower torus of the base had been bolder, as the
whole seems hardly sufficient to support a column 10
diameters in height, which is, as nearly as could be ascer-
tained, the proportion used. The capital is of usual
dimensions and form, but between the volutes, on the space
which is usually left as a plain sinking, a double spiral
ornament of great elegance is introduced, which gives great
richness to the whole, and is nearly if not quite unique.
The acanthus, as introduced on the sides of the volutes,
is also of great beauty, though its employment there would
seem to indicate that the order was not of very great
antiquity.
The entablature is of very elegant proportions, and such
ornament as is applied to it is of great elegance, and dis-
tributed over the whole in a manner which is singularly
appropriate.
Plate XXX.
Details.
Fig. A. The angle of the cymatium drawn to one-fifth
the natural scale.
Fig. B. The ornament between the volutes of the capitals
drawn to one-fifth the natural scale.
Fig. C. Section of the base of the column of the peri-
style, drawn to one-fourth of the natural scale.
Figs. D. and E. Two fragments found at Tuzla drawn
to half the actual size.
J. F.
DESCRIPTION OF PLATES.
Plate XXVI.
Plan of the Temple.
Though far from being entitled, from its dimensions, to
rank among the first class of Grecian temples, the Smin-
thium is a fair average example of the medium class, in so
far as size is concerned. It is rather smaller than the
temple of Diana Leucophryne at Magnesia {ante, p. 15),
but is considerably larger than the temples at Priene and
Teos. It measures on the upper step 132 feet 8 inches
by 68 feet 4 inches, but the value of these dimensions is
considerably enhanced by the addition of a stylobate of
ten steps, like that on which the temple at Ephesus was
raised, which must have added very much to the archi-
tectural effect of the whole. Its greatest interest, however,
lies in the fact that it is the most perfect specimen yet
published of the pseudo-dipteral arrangement of Vitruvius
[ante, p. 16).l As the pillars are less than 9 feet apart,
from centre to centre, there could be no difficulty in finding
epistylia of sufficient strength—■ which was the danger
Vitruvius feared; but, as the distance between the columns
and the walls of the cella is 16 feet, requiring lacunaria of
nearly 20 feet in length, it is more than probable that the
ceiling of the pteroma was wholly in wood, and this would
be, in fact, the real defect of the pseudo-dipteral arrange-
ment. In other respects its spaciousness and elegance have
very much to recommend it, and go far towards compen-
sating for the feebleness which, it is to be feared, is charac-
teristic of the pseudo-dipteral arrangement.
The naos at Priene is very similar in its arrangement
to the Sminthium, and even a little longer, but, owing to
the different arrangement of the peristyle, the whole area
of the Sminthium is considerably in excess, that at Priene
only measuring on the first step 7,816 feet, against 9,813
feet of the Sminthium. Whether the extended dimensions
are or are not a gain, in an architectural sense, is difficult
to decide. The Greeks, generally, seem to have preferred
the more compact arrangement, and their decision on such
a subject must be considered as final when expressed with
sufficient distinctness.
Plates XXVII. and XXVIII.
Elevation of the Front and Flank.
The front and flank elevations of the Sminthium exhibit
all the elegance that characterizes the plan of the temple, but
display the same comparative feebleness of design which,
it is to be feared, is inherent in the pseudo-dipteral arrange-
ment. »
It is hardly in conformity with the principles of Greek
architecture that the stylobate should consist of a simple
pyramid of steps, as shown in the engraving. It is more
probable that their length was broken up by pedestals at
the angles, or by terrace-like masses on the flanks, as was,
1 Vitruv. Prcef. vii.—" Postea Silenus de synimetriis Doricorum edidit
volumen . . . . de fano Minerva? quod est Prien» Ionicuin, Phileos;......
Hermogenes de aide Diana; lonica qua; est Magnesia; pseudodipteros, et
Liberi Patris Teo monopteros."
more probably, the case at Ephesus, where a similar flight
of ten steps existed (ante, p. 12). Nothing, however, was
found in the excavations to explain how this was done—if
done at all. It has, consequently, been considered safer
to engrave them as perfectly plain, and give only their
dimensions, 8 feet 1\ inches in height by 12 feet 3 inches
in breadth, which seem to have been correctly ascertained.
In like manner, although it was ascertained from the
discovery of the fragments, described by Mr. Pullan in his
Report (ante, p. 46), that the frieze was adorned with reliefs,
on the fronts at least, if not on the flanks also, these
sculptures were so indistinct that the subject could not well
be made out, and it has, therefore, been thought better to
omit them in the engraving. In attempting, however, to
realize the original design of the temple it must be borne
in mind that a sculptured frieze did once exist. If it
were now added and the stylobate broken up by pedestal
and perpendicular masses, and adorned with statues, the
design of the temple would lose much of that meagreness
with which, from its appearance on the plate, it may,
perhaps, be only too justly reproached.
Plate XXIX.
Details of the Order.
The whole design of the order is of singular elegance,
being sufficiently rich without being overloaded in any
part, and every detail well designed, and appropriate. To
modern eyes it may appear that it would have been better
if the lower torus of the base had been bolder, as the
whole seems hardly sufficient to support a column 10
diameters in height, which is, as nearly as could be ascer-
tained, the proportion used. The capital is of usual
dimensions and form, but between the volutes, on the space
which is usually left as a plain sinking, a double spiral
ornament of great elegance is introduced, which gives great
richness to the whole, and is nearly if not quite unique.
The acanthus, as introduced on the sides of the volutes,
is also of great beauty, though its employment there would
seem to indicate that the order was not of very great
antiquity.
The entablature is of very elegant proportions, and such
ornament as is applied to it is of great elegance, and dis-
tributed over the whole in a manner which is singularly
appropriate.
Plate XXX.
Details.
Fig. A. The angle of the cymatium drawn to one-fifth
the natural scale.
Fig. B. The ornament between the volutes of the capitals
drawn to one-fifth the natural scale.
Fig. C. Section of the base of the column of the peri-
style, drawn to one-fourth of the natural scale.
Figs. D. and E. Two fragments found at Tuzla drawn
to half the actual size.
J. F.