D'Ooge, Martin L.: The Acropolis of Athens (New York, 1908)

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THE ACROPOLIS OF ATHENS

of the capital. The Doric capital attained its highest beauty
in the columns of the Parthenon. The vigorous and graceful
line of the echinus merits especial attention. It is drawn out
from the neck of the column with a bold almost straight
upward stroke until it comes nearly under the edge of the
abacus, when it turns in a sharp yet graceful curve under
the edge of the rectangular member. A band of four delicate

Fig. si.—Capitals of the South Colonnade of Parthenon.

annulets decorates the base of the capital. In the erection
of the column precaution against chipping was taken and
effected by cutting the flutings only after the entire shaft
was up. By this means the perfect joints were unharmed.
The only exception was in the case of the top joint, which
always appears distinctly as a dark line round the finished
column. This results from the fact that the edge of the
fluting of the top blocks, which had to be finished before
it was put in place, is bevelled away and the real joint