DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.796#0219
THE AGE OF PERICLES 185
porticos is, according to Penrose, almost identical with that
of the pediments of the Parthenon, the rise being one in
four and fourteen hundredths (1 : 4.14). The stylobate both
of the central structure and of the wings, unlike that
of the Parthenon, shows no curvature, but the lines of the
entablature of the porticos were curved. The columns of
the western portico are taller by nearly a foot than those
of the eastern. The proportions of the columns are nearly
the same as of those of the Parthenon, but the architrave
and triglyph frieze are relatively larger, while the cornice
is considerably less in proportion. The effect of the whole
gives an impression of grace and lightness, so that aeros
Trpo7rv\aiog became proverbial for a slender and graceful
pediment.
The antae lean forward in the ratio of about 1 in 150, and
the walls incline inward at an angle of about 1 in 70. A close
inspection of the construction of the walls of the Propylaea
reveals the existence of open joints between the blocks, while
in some places tool-marks are plainly visible, especially in the
cuttings of the borders on the blocks of marble and in the
circular beddings of the columns. These peculiarities are
believed by Dorpfeld to be due to the fact that the walls
and pavement never received their complete finish. In build-
ing a wall of marble the blocks were cut so that a slightly-
bevelled edge joined a square edge, leaving the joint open to a
slight depth. This was to be dressed off so as to secure
a perfect joint after the blocks were built into the wall. By
this means the edges of the blocks were saved from being
chipped in the process of building. Now this final cutting
down to secure close joints was never wholly completed.
Again, the columns and antae, it will be observed, stand in
a circular bedding. This, Dorpfeld thinks, is provisional.
Later the surface of the pavement was to be worked down
on an exact level with the bottom of the column. Again,
wherever a wall is bounded by a plinth or a cornice, or abuts
upon another wall or a pilaster, there we see a slightly-sunk
border or edge worked into the face of the blocks of marble.
Whether this also is to be regarded as a provisional gage to
guide the stone-cutter in trimming down his blocks to a
common level, or whether this was an intentional device to
porticos is, according to Penrose, almost identical with that
of the pediments of the Parthenon, the rise being one in
four and fourteen hundredths (1 : 4.14). The stylobate both
of the central structure and of the wings, unlike that
of the Parthenon, shows no curvature, but the lines of the
entablature of the porticos were curved. The columns of
the western portico are taller by nearly a foot than those
of the eastern. The proportions of the columns are nearly
the same as of those of the Parthenon, but the architrave
and triglyph frieze are relatively larger, while the cornice
is considerably less in proportion. The effect of the whole
gives an impression of grace and lightness, so that aeros
Trpo7rv\aiog became proverbial for a slender and graceful
pediment.
The antae lean forward in the ratio of about 1 in 150, and
the walls incline inward at an angle of about 1 in 70. A close
inspection of the construction of the walls of the Propylaea
reveals the existence of open joints between the blocks, while
in some places tool-marks are plainly visible, especially in the
cuttings of the borders on the blocks of marble and in the
circular beddings of the columns. These peculiarities are
believed by Dorpfeld to be due to the fact that the walls
and pavement never received their complete finish. In build-
ing a wall of marble the blocks were cut so that a slightly-
bevelled edge joined a square edge, leaving the joint open to a
slight depth. This was to be dressed off so as to secure
a perfect joint after the blocks were built into the wall. By
this means the edges of the blocks were saved from being
chipped in the process of building. Now this final cutting
down to secure close joints was never wholly completed.
Again, the columns and antae, it will be observed, stand in
a circular bedding. This, Dorpfeld thinks, is provisional.
Later the surface of the pavement was to be worked down
on an exact level with the bottom of the column. Again,
wherever a wall is bounded by a plinth or a cornice, or abuts
upon another wall or a pilaster, there we see a slightly-sunk
border or edge worked into the face of the blocks of marble.
Whether this also is to be regarded as a provisional gage to
guide the stone-cutter in trimming down his blocks to a
common level, or whether this was an intentional device to