Inwood, Henry W.: The Erechtheion at Athens. Fragments of Athenian architecture and a few remains in Attica, Megara and Epirus (London, 1831)

18 FRAGMENTS OF

tenon, by which the teams or slabs forming the ceiling that probably rested on it were fastened,
and the perpendicular dotted line is placed to describe that the tenon was placed not vertically, but
in an inclined position : its form laterally was dovetail, as seen in the section at the side.

At the bottom of the Plate is drawn a fragment of most beautiful execution, found on the north
side of the Parthenon, being discovered after a small collection had been on one occasion brought
down from the Acropolis ; and not having the opportunity of passing through the gates, fearing the
risk of its being wantonly stopt or taken by the guards, it was rolled as carefully as possible down
the rock on the north side, a person there waiting to receive it, by which however it received some
slight injuries, and is not therefore entirely so perfect as when found.

The two elevations in the centre are of the same fragment, its two sides being of a different
design of fluting; on the left hand is dotted the termination of the leaf and of the spiral, the latter
being suggested to have been something in resemblance of the spiral of the ornament at the top of
the Plate. Below on each side is the plan of the fragment; the one taken at the bottom, where are the
stalks of the leaf only; the other taken higher, to include the angulated forms of the spaces between.
On the plan 1.2.3 acknowledge the same figures in the elevation over it, as also a, b, c, d, e the

same letters. The plans shew the two varieties of fluting, one species on each side; and at the

*

further angle of the Plate one flute of each is drawn the size of the marble. A little error will be
seen on the plan on the left hand, the centre division of one of the flutes is omitted, which on the
other side however is correct.

In the lower corner of the Plate is the front of a capital, merely ideal, with what might have
been about the general dimensions indicated with a star, simply to present to view somewhat of
the effect the fragment might possibly originally have had, and which not being of any other use
in the Plate, does not require further observation. Being permitted by C. R. Cockerell, Esq. the
favour of viewing the drawing of the Corinthian fragments of the other temple built by Ictinus
near Phigalia, where it is remarkable that gentleman had particularly noticed the peculiarity in that
instance also of the lower part of the helices or the volutes at the angles being fluted with a different
design of fluting on each side, which happily greatly tends to the inference that Corinthian columns
may have formed a part of the interior decoration of the Parthenon, and of which the present frag-
ment could have been a part; and probably more or even entire capitals might be discovered
under the piled masses of fallen blocks on each side of that temple.

As concluding the general description of these fragments a few observations are added on the
species of tile ornament, one of which forms the upper part of the Plate. These ornaments in
building were introduced crowning the cornice, and were fixed before the end of the ribs of the
roof, from whence it is inferred the name antefixae, literally ' fixed before/ was the term given
them by the Romans, being made use of on one occasion by each of the authors, Livy and Vitru-
vius, but with doubtful reference as to this particular ornament. Pliny describes, Dibutades a
Sicyonian, a potter, first invented at Corinth casting in clay a portrait in bas-relief, by pressing the
clay in the representation his daughter had made of her lover by grooving and sculpturing in the
wall; and that he first introduced the ornamenting of tiles with personae or portraits, placing them
at the extremities of the ribs, which ornaments he began to name protupon, from pro before, and