DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4327#0060
IONIC TEMPLES OF PRIENE, TEOS, AND THE SMINTHEUM.
5L
to the same, the intcrcolumn measures 1| diameters. The
dry uniformity of the equal spacing- of plinths and inter-
plinths is thus at once relieved by the reduced diameter of
the columnos.
The interval from the plinths of the front columns to
those of the antse was made equal to the plinths of the
colonnade, and the central line of the flank wall of the
cella ranges with the centre of the column in advance of it
on the front.
The anta3 at either end centre laterally with the second
columns on the flanks ; and thus the wall has the extent of
17 plinths.
In these distributions we find the architect falling back
upon a scheme such as is known as that of equal squares,
the pari quadrato of the Italians, which has great conveni-
ence in plotting, as it is by no means incompatible with a
certain artistic effect in result. It has, however, no pre-
tensions to compare in richness of effect and scope of varied
expression with the more profound and withal, no doubt,
more difficult instrument of the Athenian designers, who
shunned, above all, repetitions of many dimensions redu-
cible to identical aliquot parts.
The interior length assigned to the naos is nearly one-
half the full length of the cella, namely, 8$ plinth breadths.
5-750 X 8£ = 48-87 to compare with 48-500 as measured.
The actual length compared with the breadth gives us the
ratio 7: 11 with the trifling error of 0-15; trivial here,
though we could not so account it in an Athenian structure.
This ratio may be held to fall into series with 6: 11,
which is that of the general ground plan. It is, however,
a combination of numbers which does not seem to have found
favour with the Athenian architects. The reduction of the
length of the apartment by f of a foot Avould have given
the very favourite proportion of 9 : 14.
9 : 14 :: 30'71 : 47-770.
Fifty Greek feet, measured from the further extremity of
the naos, would fall pretty exactly in the middle of the
broad threshold. This comparison is suggested by an
apparent coincidence Avith an exact measurement in the
Parthenon. From the practice of the best Athenian archi-
tects to derive one of their measurements from another
proportionally, without reference to air equally divided
foot-rule, we cannot expect to find many dimensions, even
in a very large building, that fall coincidently with an exact
number of feet or a leading and simple division of a foot.
In the case of the Parthenon, of which we have the most
complete measurement, it is much if an exact foot-rule
measurement can be detected anywhere except as deter-
mining the hundred feet breadth of the platform. We
might expect that at least a starting dimension importantly
located would be found in every case ; but, as it is uncer-
tain Avhereabouts to seek it, so we shall scarcely be guided
to the special metrical standard of particular localities and
colonies.
Importance is given to the entrance to the naos, and
expression of due support to the ponderous double valves
which closed it by the thickness given to the cross wall. It
exceeds the lower diameter of the column by one-eighth
very exactly.
8:9:: 4*23 : 4-759 (compare 4*750 measured).
The opening of the doorway itself has the noble dimen-
sions of 15 feet, one-half the full breadth of the naos, the
utmost that would admit of the valves folding back, if
required, against the wall when the naos was thrown
open.
The investigation of the proportions of the elevation of
the temple at Pricne appears at first unpromising from an
unfortunate incompleteness of the monumental evidence.
The appearance of the ruins before the excavations were
commenced was such as to encourage the hope that every
architectural member might be recovered from the ruined
heap. The temple had manifestly been overthrown by an
earthquake, and Avhat did not appear might be assumed to
be buried, especially as, from the comparatively inaccessible
site, the remains had not been largely resorted to for
building materials. The most careful examination, Iioav-
cver, after the site had been thoroughly cleared, failed to
recover two most important elements of a restoration—the
height of the column and that of the frieze. From the
high finish of the structure it Avas naturally to be expected
that the frieze Avould have been adorned Avith sculptures.
Various slabs Avere found sculptured in relief, but not one
that could be adopted as indicating the height of the frieze,
even if there was a bare possibility that it might have
belonged to it.
Numberless drums, again, of the thirty exterior columns,
Avere found and measured, but all were in such confu-
sion that it proved impossible to recompose them in a
single instance in the order of original union; and, even
more unfortunately, there was a uniform deficiency of
drums that had belonged to the upper parts of tlio
columns.
The student of the architecture of the tenrple of Priene
is thus in the dilemma of a literary student avIio has to deal
with a text which is partly corrupt and -partly torn away.
The recoArery of a reasonable text is the condition of reco-
vering the author's meaning; but the pursuit of it is
arduous enough, even Avhen the most has been made of
hints from intelligible and undoubted context, and compa-
rison of parallel passages from other Avorks. The object in
view, hoAvever, justifies the bestoAval of considerable labour
on the chance of a solution.
Study so effectual has been bestoAved by Mr. Penrose on
the question of the height of the column, and the satis-
factory result gives 42-30 for this height Avithout the
plinth, the addition of the plinth raising it to 43-28.
As regards the frieze we have less satisfactory guidance.
We can only take into account, in the first instance, the
usual though not uniform practice of giving it a slightly
loAver height than the architrave; beyond this, to obtain a
definite figure, Ave may assume conjecturally and under
reserve that the relation of the two members at Priene may
have been the same as in the temple at Teos. This avouIcI
authorize architrave 3'330, frieze 2-880.
We have now, with this single moderate reservation,
materials to determine the height of the front. The
measurements arc these:
Pediment. . . . 9-80
Cornice . . . . 2-08
Frieze .... 2-88
Architrave . . . 3*33
Steps . . . . 3-43
Plinth .... 0-98
Base . . . . 1-77
Capital . . . . 1-57
Shaft . ' . . . 38-96
Estimated height of front
61-80
This total is only affected as an estimate—apart from a
fractional uncertainty as to the frieze—by the height
for the shaft of the column, Avhich is taken from the result
obtained by Mr. Penrose.
The breadth of the top step on the front is 64-00,
and that of the intermediate 66-74, that of the lowest
69-60.
The approximation of the measure of height to that of
the top step naturally suggests the possibility that the
design made them equal; in this case the height of the
shaft of the column Avould have to be reduced one foot,
viz. to 38-16.
The objections to this are insurmountable, and the single
alternative, if the architect is to be credited Avith haAdno-
had regard to proportion here, is to assume that the cyma-
5L
to the same, the intcrcolumn measures 1| diameters. The
dry uniformity of the equal spacing- of plinths and inter-
plinths is thus at once relieved by the reduced diameter of
the columnos.
The interval from the plinths of the front columns to
those of the antse was made equal to the plinths of the
colonnade, and the central line of the flank wall of the
cella ranges with the centre of the column in advance of it
on the front.
The anta3 at either end centre laterally with the second
columns on the flanks ; and thus the wall has the extent of
17 plinths.
In these distributions we find the architect falling back
upon a scheme such as is known as that of equal squares,
the pari quadrato of the Italians, which has great conveni-
ence in plotting, as it is by no means incompatible with a
certain artistic effect in result. It has, however, no pre-
tensions to compare in richness of effect and scope of varied
expression with the more profound and withal, no doubt,
more difficult instrument of the Athenian designers, who
shunned, above all, repetitions of many dimensions redu-
cible to identical aliquot parts.
The interior length assigned to the naos is nearly one-
half the full length of the cella, namely, 8$ plinth breadths.
5-750 X 8£ = 48-87 to compare with 48-500 as measured.
The actual length compared with the breadth gives us the
ratio 7: 11 with the trifling error of 0-15; trivial here,
though we could not so account it in an Athenian structure.
This ratio may be held to fall into series with 6: 11,
which is that of the general ground plan. It is, however,
a combination of numbers which does not seem to have found
favour with the Athenian architects. The reduction of the
length of the apartment by f of a foot Avould have given
the very favourite proportion of 9 : 14.
9 : 14 :: 30'71 : 47-770.
Fifty Greek feet, measured from the further extremity of
the naos, would fall pretty exactly in the middle of the
broad threshold. This comparison is suggested by an
apparent coincidence Avith an exact measurement in the
Parthenon. From the practice of the best Athenian archi-
tects to derive one of their measurements from another
proportionally, without reference to air equally divided
foot-rule, we cannot expect to find many dimensions, even
in a very large building, that fall coincidently with an exact
number of feet or a leading and simple division of a foot.
In the case of the Parthenon, of which we have the most
complete measurement, it is much if an exact foot-rule
measurement can be detected anywhere except as deter-
mining the hundred feet breadth of the platform. We
might expect that at least a starting dimension importantly
located would be found in every case ; but, as it is uncer-
tain Avhereabouts to seek it, so we shall scarcely be guided
to the special metrical standard of particular localities and
colonies.
Importance is given to the entrance to the naos, and
expression of due support to the ponderous double valves
which closed it by the thickness given to the cross wall. It
exceeds the lower diameter of the column by one-eighth
very exactly.
8:9:: 4*23 : 4-759 (compare 4*750 measured).
The opening of the doorway itself has the noble dimen-
sions of 15 feet, one-half the full breadth of the naos, the
utmost that would admit of the valves folding back, if
required, against the wall when the naos was thrown
open.
The investigation of the proportions of the elevation of
the temple at Pricne appears at first unpromising from an
unfortunate incompleteness of the monumental evidence.
The appearance of the ruins before the excavations were
commenced was such as to encourage the hope that every
architectural member might be recovered from the ruined
heap. The temple had manifestly been overthrown by an
earthquake, and Avhat did not appear might be assumed to
be buried, especially as, from the comparatively inaccessible
site, the remains had not been largely resorted to for
building materials. The most careful examination, Iioav-
cver, after the site had been thoroughly cleared, failed to
recover two most important elements of a restoration—the
height of the column and that of the frieze. From the
high finish of the structure it Avas naturally to be expected
that the frieze Avould have been adorned Avith sculptures.
Various slabs Avere found sculptured in relief, but not one
that could be adopted as indicating the height of the frieze,
even if there was a bare possibility that it might have
belonged to it.
Numberless drums, again, of the thirty exterior columns,
Avere found and measured, but all were in such confu-
sion that it proved impossible to recompose them in a
single instance in the order of original union; and, even
more unfortunately, there was a uniform deficiency of
drums that had belonged to the upper parts of tlio
columns.
The student of the architecture of the tenrple of Priene
is thus in the dilemma of a literary student avIio has to deal
with a text which is partly corrupt and -partly torn away.
The recoArery of a reasonable text is the condition of reco-
vering the author's meaning; but the pursuit of it is
arduous enough, even Avhen the most has been made of
hints from intelligible and undoubted context, and compa-
rison of parallel passages from other Avorks. The object in
view, hoAvever, justifies the bestoAval of considerable labour
on the chance of a solution.
Study so effectual has been bestoAved by Mr. Penrose on
the question of the height of the column, and the satis-
factory result gives 42-30 for this height Avithout the
plinth, the addition of the plinth raising it to 43-28.
As regards the frieze we have less satisfactory guidance.
We can only take into account, in the first instance, the
usual though not uniform practice of giving it a slightly
loAver height than the architrave; beyond this, to obtain a
definite figure, Ave may assume conjecturally and under
reserve that the relation of the two members at Priene may
have been the same as in the temple at Teos. This avouIcI
authorize architrave 3'330, frieze 2-880.
We have now, with this single moderate reservation,
materials to determine the height of the front. The
measurements arc these:
Pediment. . . . 9-80
Cornice . . . . 2-08
Frieze .... 2-88
Architrave . . . 3*33
Steps . . . . 3-43
Plinth .... 0-98
Base . . . . 1-77
Capital . . . . 1-57
Shaft . ' . . . 38-96
Estimated height of front
61-80
This total is only affected as an estimate—apart from a
fractional uncertainty as to the frieze—by the height
for the shaft of the column, Avhich is taken from the result
obtained by Mr. Penrose.
The breadth of the top step on the front is 64-00,
and that of the intermediate 66-74, that of the lowest
69-60.
The approximation of the measure of height to that of
the top step naturally suggests the possibility that the
design made them equal; in this case the height of the
shaft of the column Avould have to be reduced one foot,
viz. to 38-16.
The objections to this are insurmountable, and the single
alternative, if the architect is to be credited Avith haAdno-
had regard to proportion here, is to assume that the cyma-