DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26747#0335
Chap. II.
:ONIC ORDEB.
271
temple of Nike Apteros is brilliantly ornamentecl in tlie same style as
tliose of the Doric order. It also happened that tlaose details and orna-
ments wliicli were only painted in the Doric, are carved in tlie lonio
order, and remain therefore visible to the present day, whieh gives to
this order a completeness in our eyes which the other cannot boast of.
Add to this a certain degree of Asiatic elegance and grace. All this
when put together makes up a singularly pleasing architectural object.
But notwithstanding these advantages the Doric order will probably
always be admitted to
be superior, as belonging
to a higher class of art,
and because all its forms
and details are better and
more adapted to their
purpose than these are.
The principal cha-
racteristic of the Ionic
order is the Pelasgic or
Asiatic spiral, here call-
ed a volute, which, not-
withstanding its ele-
gance, forms at best but
an awkward capital. The
Assyrian lioney suckle be-
low this, carved as it is
with the exquisite feel-
ing and taste whicli a
Greek only knew how to
impart to such an object,
forms as elegant an archi-
tectural detail as is any-
where to be found ; and
whether used as the
necking of a column, or
on the crowning member
of a cornice, or on other
parts connected with the
order, is everywhere the
most beautiful ornament
connected with it. Com-
paring this order with
that at Persepolis (wood-
cut No. 140), the only
truly Asiatic prototype we have of it, we see how much tlie Doric
feeling of the Greeks had done to sober it down, by abbreviating the
capital and omitting the greater part of the base. This process was
carried much farther when the order was used in conjunction with the
Doric, as in the Propylsea, than when used by itself, as in thc Erech-
theium; still in every case all tlie parts found in the Asiatic style aro
nfi
j
TF
IjTJi
jiuuuuuuuimi
lonic order of Erechtheium at Athens.
:ONIC ORDEB.
271
temple of Nike Apteros is brilliantly ornamentecl in tlie same style as
tliose of the Doric order. It also happened that tlaose details and orna-
ments wliicli were only painted in the Doric, are carved in tlie lonio
order, and remain therefore visible to the present day, whieh gives to
this order a completeness in our eyes which the other cannot boast of.
Add to this a certain degree of Asiatic elegance and grace. All this
when put together makes up a singularly pleasing architectural object.
But notwithstanding these advantages the Doric order will probably
always be admitted to
be superior, as belonging
to a higher class of art,
and because all its forms
and details are better and
more adapted to their
purpose than these are.
The principal cha-
racteristic of the Ionic
order is the Pelasgic or
Asiatic spiral, here call-
ed a volute, which, not-
withstanding its ele-
gance, forms at best but
an awkward capital. The
Assyrian lioney suckle be-
low this, carved as it is
with the exquisite feel-
ing and taste whicli a
Greek only knew how to
impart to such an object,
forms as elegant an archi-
tectural detail as is any-
where to be found ; and
whether used as the
necking of a column, or
on the crowning member
of a cornice, or on other
parts connected with the
order, is everywhere the
most beautiful ornament
connected with it. Com-
paring this order with
that at Persepolis (wood-
cut No. 140), the only
truly Asiatic prototype we have of it, we see how much tlie Doric
feeling of the Greeks had done to sober it down, by abbreviating the
capital and omitting the greater part of the base. This process was
carried much farther when the order was used in conjunction with the
Doric, as in the Propylsea, than when used by itself, as in thc Erech-
theium; still in every case all tlie parts found in the Asiatic style aro
nfi
j
TF
IjTJi
jiuuuuuuuimi
lonic order of Erechtheium at Athens.