DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4377#0127
GYMNASIUM, ETC. 157
small, and with an entrance at either end, and
around it was a spacious temenos planted with
shady trees, and affording an agreeable place of
resort to the people of Cnidns.
After quoting this description in full, Colonel
Leake observes, that, from the small scale of the
Corinthian temple on the platform, it would have
been well adapted for the reception of a single
figure, such as the work of Praxiteles ; that in
this case the Corinthian order may have been pre-
ferred to the native Doric, on account of the greater
suitability of this more ornate style for a temple
of Venus ; and that, though this temple is probably
less ancient than the age of Praxiteles, there is no
difficulty in supposing that a new building may
have been erected for the statue long after his
time. He further remarks, that the conspicuous
and central position of the platform on which this
temple stands, and its extent, are additional argu-
ments in favour of the supposition that this spot
was chosen as the site of the famous Aphrodisium.
It may be observed, on the other hand, that,
though this platform, from its commanding posi-
tion, is certainly the most remarkable site in the
whole city, and consequently the one where we
might, a priori, expect to find the temple which
Avas the great centre of attraction to all who visited
Cnidus, the ruins of the.temple present no positive
evidence in confirmation of Leake's conjecture.
The fact that the temple is Corinthian contributes
little or nothing in support of his argument, for
this order is employed at Cnidus in all the temples
II. 2 H
small, and with an entrance at either end, and
around it was a spacious temenos planted with
shady trees, and affording an agreeable place of
resort to the people of Cnidns.
After quoting this description in full, Colonel
Leake observes, that, from the small scale of the
Corinthian temple on the platform, it would have
been well adapted for the reception of a single
figure, such as the work of Praxiteles ; that in
this case the Corinthian order may have been pre-
ferred to the native Doric, on account of the greater
suitability of this more ornate style for a temple
of Venus ; and that, though this temple is probably
less ancient than the age of Praxiteles, there is no
difficulty in supposing that a new building may
have been erected for the statue long after his
time. He further remarks, that the conspicuous
and central position of the platform on which this
temple stands, and its extent, are additional argu-
ments in favour of the supposition that this spot
was chosen as the site of the famous Aphrodisium.
It may be observed, on the other hand, that,
though this platform, from its commanding posi-
tion, is certainly the most remarkable site in the
whole city, and consequently the one where we
might, a priori, expect to find the temple which
Avas the great centre of attraction to all who visited
Cnidus, the ruins of the.temple present no positive
evidence in confirmation of Leake's conjecture.
The fact that the temple is Corinthian contributes
little or nothing in support of his argument, for
this order is employed at Cnidus in all the temples
II. 2 H