DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2984#0083
7°
AN INVESTIGATION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF ATHENIAN ARCHITECTURE
It is clear, however, from indications in the north wall of the Propytea that a roof over
this area was originally intended, and it would have formed a very noble apartment about 75 feet
long x 42 wide. Some older foundations are seen running obliquely into the walls which bound
this area towards its north-east angle. These foundations are approximately square with the north
wall of the citadel, and belonged to the building described as the Chalcotheke in Chap. I. Sect. 2.
The preparations for a roof, to which I have referred, are repeated on the south side of the
Propyla=a, there can therefore be no reason to doubt the original intention of a similar apartment
on this side also, but no preparations of any kind were made for building the walls or utilizing
the site.
SECTION II
Details of the Propyl^a
Plates XXXI. XXXII. XXXIII. XXXIV.
Plate XXXI. refers to the angle of the eastern portico. This example of Doric differs in several
minor particulars from the Parthenon. The proportions of the columns arc almost identical, but
the architrave and frieze are rather greater, and the cornice, considerably less in proportion. Again,
whilst the pitch of the pediment in the two examples does not differ sensibly, the mutules make
a more considerable angle with the level. Here the rise is 1 in 4.256; in the Parthenon it is
only 1 in 6. The mutules are here supported by an ogee bed moulding. The corresponding
member in the Parthenon is a plain band.
On this plate arc references to most of the vestiges of the painting and of the coloured
ornaments observed on the exterior. The cymatium was adorned with the egg and tongue pattern
of a large size, indicated very positively by the usual incised line. The hawksbeak moulding
crowning the coronas both of the raking and horizontal cornice had the pattern of Egyptian
character, alternately red and blue, as in other examples. On the vertical face, under the stillicidium
of the cornice, faint traces of red were visible. The soffit between the mutules appeared to be
red. One fragment retained distinct though incomplete traces of a honeysuckle. The sides, soffit,
and front of the mutules bore also distinct traces of blue. The guttae showed no remains of
colour, except on the under side, where a circular ring was traced, which formerly was distinguished
with colour or with gold. The ogee moulding under the mutules had leaves similar to those
which enrich the lower moulding of the band or string under the Ionic architrave given in Plate
XXIV.
A comparison of these and other examples seems to point out that it was the general practice
among the Greeks to decorate mouldings of a curvilinear profile with patterns composed principally
of curves ; and flat bands and strings with rectilinear figures. Although the honeysuckle occasionally
occurs on flat surfaces, no instance seems to have been found of a curved profile decorated with a
labyrinth fret, or other right line pattern.
As has been before said, it appears that the faces of the corona of the principal cornices were
in all cases plain.
The example of the Ionic order given in Plate XXXII., bears a considerable resemblance to
that of the small temple on the Ilissus (see Stuart's first volume), now unfortunately destroyed,
and, like it, is remarkable for its simplicity.1 The abacus was ornamented with painted eggs. Those
on the neck, between the volutes, were sculptured in full relief, but under the pulvince of the
capital the outlines were merely indicated by a slight relief, and the effect was no doubt aided
1 A full-sized outline of the volute of this capital, together with most in the volume of the Wiener Bauzeitung, published in 1840-41, contributed
of the mouldings and various other particulars of the Propykea, are given by Herr'n Hofer and Schaubert.
AN INVESTIGATION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF ATHENIAN ARCHITECTURE
It is clear, however, from indications in the north wall of the Propytea that a roof over
this area was originally intended, and it would have formed a very noble apartment about 75 feet
long x 42 wide. Some older foundations are seen running obliquely into the walls which bound
this area towards its north-east angle. These foundations are approximately square with the north
wall of the citadel, and belonged to the building described as the Chalcotheke in Chap. I. Sect. 2.
The preparations for a roof, to which I have referred, are repeated on the south side of the
Propyla=a, there can therefore be no reason to doubt the original intention of a similar apartment
on this side also, but no preparations of any kind were made for building the walls or utilizing
the site.
SECTION II
Details of the Propyl^a
Plates XXXI. XXXII. XXXIII. XXXIV.
Plate XXXI. refers to the angle of the eastern portico. This example of Doric differs in several
minor particulars from the Parthenon. The proportions of the columns arc almost identical, but
the architrave and frieze are rather greater, and the cornice, considerably less in proportion. Again,
whilst the pitch of the pediment in the two examples does not differ sensibly, the mutules make
a more considerable angle with the level. Here the rise is 1 in 4.256; in the Parthenon it is
only 1 in 6. The mutules are here supported by an ogee bed moulding. The corresponding
member in the Parthenon is a plain band.
On this plate arc references to most of the vestiges of the painting and of the coloured
ornaments observed on the exterior. The cymatium was adorned with the egg and tongue pattern
of a large size, indicated very positively by the usual incised line. The hawksbeak moulding
crowning the coronas both of the raking and horizontal cornice had the pattern of Egyptian
character, alternately red and blue, as in other examples. On the vertical face, under the stillicidium
of the cornice, faint traces of red were visible. The soffit between the mutules appeared to be
red. One fragment retained distinct though incomplete traces of a honeysuckle. The sides, soffit,
and front of the mutules bore also distinct traces of blue. The guttae showed no remains of
colour, except on the under side, where a circular ring was traced, which formerly was distinguished
with colour or with gold. The ogee moulding under the mutules had leaves similar to those
which enrich the lower moulding of the band or string under the Ionic architrave given in Plate
XXIV.
A comparison of these and other examples seems to point out that it was the general practice
among the Greeks to decorate mouldings of a curvilinear profile with patterns composed principally
of curves ; and flat bands and strings with rectilinear figures. Although the honeysuckle occasionally
occurs on flat surfaces, no instance seems to have been found of a curved profile decorated with a
labyrinth fret, or other right line pattern.
As has been before said, it appears that the faces of the corona of the principal cornices were
in all cases plain.
The example of the Ionic order given in Plate XXXII., bears a considerable resemblance to
that of the small temple on the Ilissus (see Stuart's first volume), now unfortunately destroyed,
and, like it, is remarkable for its simplicity.1 The abacus was ornamented with painted eggs. Those
on the neck, between the volutes, were sculptured in full relief, but under the pulvince of the
capital the outlines were merely indicated by a slight relief, and the effect was no doubt aided
1 A full-sized outline of the volute of this capital, together with most in the volume of the Wiener Bauzeitung, published in 1840-41, contributed
of the mouldings and various other particulars of the Propykea, are given by Herr'n Hofer and Schaubert.