DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4098#0409
368 TEMPLE OF THESEUS.
medals,1 on temples, and sepulchral vases ; and is still used at Athens
in embroidery.
The Theseion is elevated upon only two steps, contrary to the com-
mon rules of Grecian temples, which generally stand upon three.
These steps, as well as the other parts of the temple, are of Pen-
telic marble ;2 the whole rests upon a strong foundation composed of
large -stones, six layers of which are now uncovered at the eastern
and western ends, and on the northern flank, though they were
anciently covered up to the steps. On the southern side the earth
rises above the lower step ; but every rain washes down some of the
earth on the north side of the temple, and exposes the foundation to
increasing destruction. Some of the stones are loose, and a few
years will perhaps level with the ground the whole northern flank of
this beautiful edifice, which only a small but timely expense might
preserve for many ages more. Those who have merited the se-
verity of public censure by the destruction of the Athenian temples,
might in some measure have obliterated their disgrace, by contri-
buting to the preservation of the yet remaining monuments of
Athens; but that was foreign to their plan of pillage, and I am
confident they would have been happy to see the whole temple fall,
had one single sculptured fragment been obtained by its destruction.
The frusta of three contiguous columns on the south flank have been
shaken out of their centre, probably by an earthquake. The lower
frustum of the third column from the south-west angle has been in-
tentionally broken, apparently for the purpose of admitting into the
celia some object larger than the intercolumniation.
There was probably an entrance to the cella at both ends, as in
the Parthenon ; that of the western extremity is blocked up, and
that of the opposite end is concealed by the altar of the church:
Magnesia, Priene, Apollonia, Apamea, Stc.
! It is said that the sculpture is of Parian marble, but I was not able to examine them
sufficiently near to ascertain the fact.
medals,1 on temples, and sepulchral vases ; and is still used at Athens
in embroidery.
The Theseion is elevated upon only two steps, contrary to the com-
mon rules of Grecian temples, which generally stand upon three.
These steps, as well as the other parts of the temple, are of Pen-
telic marble ;2 the whole rests upon a strong foundation composed of
large -stones, six layers of which are now uncovered at the eastern
and western ends, and on the northern flank, though they were
anciently covered up to the steps. On the southern side the earth
rises above the lower step ; but every rain washes down some of the
earth on the north side of the temple, and exposes the foundation to
increasing destruction. Some of the stones are loose, and a few
years will perhaps level with the ground the whole northern flank of
this beautiful edifice, which only a small but timely expense might
preserve for many ages more. Those who have merited the se-
verity of public censure by the destruction of the Athenian temples,
might in some measure have obliterated their disgrace, by contri-
buting to the preservation of the yet remaining monuments of
Athens; but that was foreign to their plan of pillage, and I am
confident they would have been happy to see the whole temple fall,
had one single sculptured fragment been obtained by its destruction.
The frusta of three contiguous columns on the south flank have been
shaken out of their centre, probably by an earthquake. The lower
frustum of the third column from the south-west angle has been in-
tentionally broken, apparently for the purpose of admitting into the
celia some object larger than the intercolumniation.
There was probably an entrance to the cella at both ends, as in
the Parthenon ; that of the western extremity is blocked up, and
that of the opposite end is concealed by the altar of the church:
Magnesia, Priene, Apollonia, Apamea, Stc.
! It is said that the sculpture is of Parian marble, but I was not able to examine them
sufficiently near to ascertain the fact.