DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7416#0132
122
made to hold spears and staves ; whence a spear-holder is spoken
of, in the Odyssey, as part of a column :1 the triglyphs and blocks
of the cornice were also derived from utility; they having been in-
tended to represent the projecting ends of the beams and rafters
which formed the roof.
155. The Ionic capital has no bell, but volutes formed in imita-
tion of sea-shells, which have the same symbolical meaning. To
them is frequently added the ornament which architects call a honey-
suckle ; but which seems to be meant for the young petals of the
same flower viewed horizontally, before they are opened or ex-
panded. Another ornament is also introduced in this capital, which
they call eggs and anchors ; but which is, in fact, composed of eggs
and spear-heads, the symbols of passive generative, and active de-
structive power; or, in the language of mythology, of Venus and
Mars.
156. These are, in reality, all the Greek orders, which are respec-
tively distinguished by the symbolical ornaments being placed up-
wards, downwards, or sideways : wherefore, to invent a new order
is as much impossible as to invent an attitude or position, which
shall incline to neither of the three. As for the orders called Tuscan
and Composite, the one is that in which there is no ornament what-
soever, and the other that in which various ornaments are placed
in different directions; so that the one is in reality no order, and
the other a combination of several.
157- The columns being thus sacred symbols, the temples them-
selves, of which they always formed the principal part, were emblems
of the Deity, signifying generally the passive productive power;
■whence IIEPIKI0NI02, surrounded with columns, is among the
Orphic or mystic epithets of Bacchus, in his character of god of
the waters;2- and his statue in that situation had the same meaning
as the Indian lingaui, the bull in the labyrinth, and other symbolical
compositions of the same kind before cited. A variety of accessary
symbols were almost always added, to enrich the sacred edifices ;
' Od. A. 127.
1 Orph. Hymn. xlvi.
made to hold spears and staves ; whence a spear-holder is spoken
of, in the Odyssey, as part of a column :1 the triglyphs and blocks
of the cornice were also derived from utility; they having been in-
tended to represent the projecting ends of the beams and rafters
which formed the roof.
155. The Ionic capital has no bell, but volutes formed in imita-
tion of sea-shells, which have the same symbolical meaning. To
them is frequently added the ornament which architects call a honey-
suckle ; but which seems to be meant for the young petals of the
same flower viewed horizontally, before they are opened or ex-
panded. Another ornament is also introduced in this capital, which
they call eggs and anchors ; but which is, in fact, composed of eggs
and spear-heads, the symbols of passive generative, and active de-
structive power; or, in the language of mythology, of Venus and
Mars.
156. These are, in reality, all the Greek orders, which are respec-
tively distinguished by the symbolical ornaments being placed up-
wards, downwards, or sideways : wherefore, to invent a new order
is as much impossible as to invent an attitude or position, which
shall incline to neither of the three. As for the orders called Tuscan
and Composite, the one is that in which there is no ornament what-
soever, and the other that in which various ornaments are placed
in different directions; so that the one is in reality no order, and
the other a combination of several.
157- The columns being thus sacred symbols, the temples them-
selves, of which they always formed the principal part, were emblems
of the Deity, signifying generally the passive productive power;
■whence IIEPIKI0NI02, surrounded with columns, is among the
Orphic or mystic epithets of Bacchus, in his character of god of
the waters;2- and his statue in that situation had the same meaning
as the Indian lingaui, the bull in the labyrinth, and other symbolical
compositions of the same kind before cited. A variety of accessary
symbols were almost always added, to enrich the sacred edifices ;
' Od. A. 127.
1 Orph. Hymn. xlvi.