Gabb, Thomas: Finis pyramidis or Disquisitions concerning the antiquity and scientific end of the great pyramid of Giza, or ancient Memphis, in Egypt, and of the first standard of linear measure (Retford, 1806)

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exactly, 2J diameters for all the intercolumns, except
that in the centre of the front and postern, to which he
assigned just 3 diameters. This species may be con«
sidered a reform of the Diastyle.

" When columns, says Vitruvius, are disposed irr
*' the areostyle species, they are to be 8 diameters high:
" in diastyle, 8§ : in systyle, 9§ ; in Pycnostyle, IO di«
" ameters : and in eustyle 8§, the same as in diastyle."
Hence, it seems, Vitruvius thought the eustyle ari
improvement only of the diastyle ; and in reality the
diastyle may be considered as a genus including several
species ; since here 2* diameters, and in the Doric
ditriglyphon 2| diameters are as invariably settled for
the intercolumn, as the 2j in the eustyle, yet Vitruvius
calls it diastyle. And the same reasoning obtains in
the systyle, which as a genus, must not exceed 2 diame-
ters, but any thing between 1| diameter and 2 diameters
can be no other than systyle : and any space within
1| diameter must be admitted under the genus pycnos-
tyle : for in the works of the ancients, both of Greeks
and Romans there are endless variations of intercolumns;
and nothing amongst them fixed and certain but the
eustyle and the two species of Doric intercolumns, to
which might be added the areostyle, in just 4 diameters,
with three triglyphs over every intercolumn, but it is
inadmissible in stone epistyles. But of this more at
large in it's place.

To return : the reason, which Vitruvius assigns for
these variations in the symmetrical heights of columns,
or in the greater or less degree of delicacy of the shafts,
is, that the nearer columns approach each other, thè
thicker their shafts will appear; which apparent increase
of size, he maintains the contraction of the diameter

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