Pennethorne, John; Robinson, John [Ill.]: The geometry and optics of ancient architecture: illustrated by examples from Thebes, Athens, and Rome (London [u.a.], 1878)

18

THE EIBST GIVEN PKOPOBTIONS.

In addition to the designs of internal Architecture above referred to, we meet with
the same system of proportioning in aliquot parts applied to the larger works of Egyptian
Architecture; thus, taking the Proportions of the Columns and Entablature in the Inner and
Outer Courts of Medinet Haboo, at Thebes, erected about 1220 B.C., we find—

Innee Court.

given height^38^41 = 2.77feet^modulug
14 14

Column . . - 2-77 x 11 = 30-471 feet.

Entablature = 2*77 x 3= 8*31 „

givenheightofCol*- _ 30^7 _ 6.og4 -

5 5

of abacus,
abacus 6*094

0*6094 feet = modulus for

10 10

the details of the Columns and of the
Projections.

Outer Court.

13 13

Column. . = 2*983 x 10 = 29*83 feet.

Entablature = 2*983 x 3= 8*94 „

given height of Coln- n-in-t i

-------------------------= 2*131 feet.

14

2*131 x 3 = 6*393 feet = width of abacus.

abacus 6*393 n ^on_ . , _ ,.

——— = = 0*5327 = modulus for the

details of the Columns and Projections.

In these several Egyptian examples the parts are all found to be commensurable one
with another, that is to say, they can be measured or divided without having a remainder, by
some divisor, called their common measure or modulus ; and we may now proceed to examine
to what extent this same idea of Proportion is found to be applicable to the works of Greek
Architecture.