DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4423#0317
242 SOMAN ARCHITECTURE,
INTERNAL ARCHITECTURE.
Our attention has been hitherto confined to external Architecture, for with the Greeks
their religious ceremonials were external, and their Architecture was naturally adapted to their
climate, and to an external worship. The cella of the Greek Temple was small, and only
suited for the reception of the statue of the Deity, and the Architecture became subordinate
to the sculpture. Although our information with regard to the interiors of the Temples is
limited, owing to the ruined state in which we now find them, still it would be possible, with
some degree of certainty, to restore the interiors of the Parthenon, and of the Erechtheium,
and the Vestibule of the Propylgea could be perfectly restored from the parts that remain.
We know, however, that the interiors were carefully designed in every detail, and far
more enriched with colour than the external parts of the Temple, and that the same principles
of design were applicable to both alike, except probably the " additions and diminutions " in
the first given heights, and the curvature of the horizontal lines.
In Egypt the Architecture has more of an internal character than in Greece, and
the interior appearance in the series of Courts and Halls that were enclosed within the outer
walls of the Temple was more studied than the external effect; the interior of many parts of
the Memnonium at Thebes and of the Temple of Karnak must have been impressive, and the
well-proportioned chambers in the Tombs of the Kings, with the vaulted roofs highly enriched
with colour and ornament, show an advanced state of architectural design, differing in nothing
from later works, except in being impressed with an Egyptian character, both in the ornament
and in the hieroglyphics.
But it is in Rome, as Mr. Fergusson truly remarks, " that we find we have to deal
" with a great people, who, for the first time in the world's history, rendered Architecture
" subservient to their many wants."
" It thus happens that in Roman cities, in addition to Temples, we find Basilicas,
" Baths, Palaces, Tombs, Arches of Triumph, &c, all equally objects of architectural skill,
" and the best of these, in fact, are those which, from previous neglect in other countries, are
" stamped with originality."
It is especially the internal Architecture of the Roman designs that is worthy of
study, and that approaches more nearly to the requirements of modern civilization.
In such works as the Yestibule of the Pantheon, the Basilicas of Trajan and of Maxentius,
the Christian Basilicas of St. Peter at Rome, and of St. Sophia at Constantinople, we possess
INTERNAL ARCHITECTURE.
Our attention has been hitherto confined to external Architecture, for with the Greeks
their religious ceremonials were external, and their Architecture was naturally adapted to their
climate, and to an external worship. The cella of the Greek Temple was small, and only
suited for the reception of the statue of the Deity, and the Architecture became subordinate
to the sculpture. Although our information with regard to the interiors of the Temples is
limited, owing to the ruined state in which we now find them, still it would be possible, with
some degree of certainty, to restore the interiors of the Parthenon, and of the Erechtheium,
and the Vestibule of the Propylgea could be perfectly restored from the parts that remain.
We know, however, that the interiors were carefully designed in every detail, and far
more enriched with colour than the external parts of the Temple, and that the same principles
of design were applicable to both alike, except probably the " additions and diminutions " in
the first given heights, and the curvature of the horizontal lines.
In Egypt the Architecture has more of an internal character than in Greece, and
the interior appearance in the series of Courts and Halls that were enclosed within the outer
walls of the Temple was more studied than the external effect; the interior of many parts of
the Memnonium at Thebes and of the Temple of Karnak must have been impressive, and the
well-proportioned chambers in the Tombs of the Kings, with the vaulted roofs highly enriched
with colour and ornament, show an advanced state of architectural design, differing in nothing
from later works, except in being impressed with an Egyptian character, both in the ornament
and in the hieroglyphics.
But it is in Rome, as Mr. Fergusson truly remarks, " that we find we have to deal
" with a great people, who, for the first time in the world's history, rendered Architecture
" subservient to their many wants."
" It thus happens that in Roman cities, in addition to Temples, we find Basilicas,
" Baths, Palaces, Tombs, Arches of Triumph, &c, all equally objects of architectural skill,
" and the best of these, in fact, are those which, from previous neglect in other countries, are
" stamped with originality."
It is especially the internal Architecture of the Roman designs that is worthy of
study, and that approaches more nearly to the requirements of modern civilization.
In such works as the Yestibule of the Pantheon, the Basilicas of Trajan and of Maxentius,
the Christian Basilicas of St. Peter at Rome, and of St. Sophia at Constantinople, we possess