DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4264#0031
le> as I am
W*"* has te
Within> it has
.■oof; the "^
^Pass roUnd it
f this
> as
entrauCe
atR
0lfle.but}
M
ircely worthy of
last»J7>^
•jm to the SeveuthC
approbatioa
'vith considerable a
evailing and
correspondent te
on other occasions.
Presents itself,,^
mp
tion which
^iledtoit, that com
passage. In several of tlj)!--
rand with, and distinct^
•ee words, but the emenckti, "
rst-named in the
, of the "words nude'upflj
ce the second word. Int|,~
: the proposed amendment,!^
dligible by itself, smhdfcjf
terate representation of pa i%
ely follows it in many of them; i
obable. Mr. H. J.BoseoW:
to the dictum of Vitrurios, "i
ler decastyla fuere"; kttktw.
for the Hexastyle Temples tilt
re hypaothral. Theautktli
in another work observes, 4s
lple, " the proof of tie Partis::
is solely upon the capacity oft
productions in architecture ills''
rdinn- theopisthodornus,ks;v:
e observation, I am convincede
me within this division of tlefc
unbent on us to controvert, fsc
: been discovered, and sifefc
rent architects, of dimensioisE
ted to remove all doubtsontks
-istyliumoftbetemple.It^
ruction, tohavebeenprottf
way has been removed; iihj
astyle. But is it mco-rt*
ed, in speaking of to*
i„s, written for the
on had produced a!
in arrangement of eifej
ice. that when be * f
nation of h^$
10„e point of v«
iers that they ^ We
me„sions,andmr „,.,;:
^ would result ££j
t when he says, tto„
probable that taf»^
> temple at
celebrated
::■:
even
by*
Olymp^*
lifices, odd
countrymen ^a"a^v;
previously set «* ^
the wnrd
CALLED THE PARTHENON AND HECATOMPEDON 31
I shall now remark the particulars in which the Parthenon agrees with what Vitruvius hath
here delivered.
The description I have quoted from Wheler, shews that this temple, when he saw it, had within
the cell on each side, two rows of columns one above the othera, standing at a distance from the wall.
The decorations on the eastern front, prove the principal entrance to have been originally placed
there ; though it was most probably closed by the Greek Christians, because otherwise they could not
have placed their Communion Table at the east end of the temple, a custom they always religiously
observe. It is likewise evident, that the door we now see in the western front was originally there, for
the threshold or step into it still remains; and thus far the construction of this temple agrees with
what Vitruvius has delivered, and favours my opinion. It is true the roof with which it was com-
pletely covered when Wheler and Spon, and other travellers examined it, may seem to furnish a plau-
sible objection to what I have here advanced ; but as great additions and alterations have certainly
been made, to adapt it to the performance of the numerous ceremonies of the Greek ritual, and the
pompous functions of the archbishop and his attendant clergy, it is extremely probable that the roof
was completed at the same time ; and this supposition will acquire additional support, when we con-
sider that the space between the columns did not much exceed thirty feet, and must have been covered
t
in, before it was fit for the reception of a Christian congregation ; and that this work would not have
been of a more expensive kind, nor have required greater skill in the execution, than the alterations
which Wheler and Spon inform us were made in the eastern endb.
Another objection may be deduced from what Vitruvius himself has said (Book IV. Chap. VII.),
where, enumerating several deviations from the usual form of temples, he tells usc, " Temples are also
built of other kinds, ordered with the same proportions, but differently disposed, as that of Castor, in
the Circus Flaminius, and that of Vejovis, between the two groves ; also, but more ingeniously, that
of Diana Nemorensis, with columns added to the right and left on the shoulders of the pronaos ; but
this kind of temple, like that of Castor, in the Circus, was first erected in the Fortress of Athens to
Minerva"," &c.
Vitruvius having already told us, that there was no Hypasthros at Rome, seems, by remarking
the similarity between those Temples he has here enumerated, and that of Minerva in the Acropolis,
to furnish a proof that the latter was not an Hypsethros; but it must be observed, that in this place
he is treating of the disposition of the external columns only.
It appears extraordinary, that in the account Vitruvius has given of the Hypasthros, the exam-
ples he produces are exceptions to his doctrine ; but we may be the less surprised at it, as the same
sider with Stuart, (but with deference to those eminent
scholars who have subsequently studied the passage in question),
that this word belongs to, and is applied by way of exception, as
far as regards the decastyle and dipteral arrangement, to the Par-
thenon, and adopting the el as a positive part of the text, the re-
mainder may indifferently appertain either to the Temple of Olym-
pia, which though Hexastyle was hypasthral, or the Olympieum at
Athens. Vide Finis Pyramidis, 8vo. Chap. XIII. Wilkins's Ant.
of Magna Grcecia. Int. Civil Architecture of Vitruvius, Sect. I.
Chap. I. Kose,Insc. Gracai, p. 179- Wilkins's Atheniensia, p. 107-
Hawkins's Top. of Athens in Walpole's Memoirs, p. 489. [ed.]
* See note c page 25. LEV-1
b The following extract of a letter will assist us in this dis-
quisition : it was written by a captain in the Venetian army, who
was present at the siege and the surrender of the Acropolis in
the year 1687, and 1688.
The cupolas here mentioned sufficiently prove that this
ceiling of the Parthenon was no part of the original temple, but
that it was the work of more modern Greeks; for thus they der
coratedthe church of Sancta Sophia, at Constantinople, and many
other churches built by them during the time of the Coustanti-
nopolitan emperors.
c Item generibus aliis constituuntur iEdcs, ex iisdem symmc-
triis ordinata;, & alio genere dispositions habentes; uti est Cas-
toris in circo Flaminio, et inter duos Lucos Vejovis. Item
argutius nemori Diance, columnis adjectis dextra ac sinistra ad
humeros Pronai. Hoc autcm genere primo facta aides, uti est
Castoris in Circo, Athenis in arce Minerva;, &c. Vitr. 1. iv. c. 7-
p. 158.
d This reference to the Temple of Minerva on the Acropolis,
is supposed by several recent commentators on Vitruvius, to be-
long to that of Minerva Polias, in relation to the disposition of
rEradetto Tempio in forma di Parallclogrammo: le mura tbe tetrastyle portico of the Ercchthcum, (c columnis adjectis
tutte composte di famosissimo marmo bianco, le colonne die dextra ac sinistra ad humeros Pronai;') which, if it were the ease,
1'accompagnavano erano al numcro di 60. sopra le quali posava un would remove the objection here anticipated by our author. The
Cielo di orandissima mole ; in alcuni luoghi per ornamento, vi reader will find in the description of the plan of the Parthenon,
erano alcune cupole le di cui estremita si componevano di mattoni plate V. page 37, continued remarks and annotations by Stuart
a musaico, in una di queste caddc la bomba." 'Lettere memo- and the editor, on the disputed passage in question. [ed.]
rabile di Bulifone, raccolta seconda', p. 86.
it was
compi
leted and i
W*"* has te
Within> it has
.■oof; the "^
^Pass roUnd it
f this
> as
entrauCe
atR
0lfle.but}
M
ircely worthy of
last»J7>^
•jm to the SeveuthC
approbatioa
'vith considerable a
evailing and
correspondent te
on other occasions.
Presents itself,,^
mp
tion which
^iledtoit, that com
passage. In several of tlj)!--
rand with, and distinct^
•ee words, but the emenckti, "
rst-named in the
, of the "words nude'upflj
ce the second word. Int|,~
: the proposed amendment,!^
dligible by itself, smhdfcjf
terate representation of pa i%
ely follows it in many of them; i
obable. Mr. H. J.BoseoW:
to the dictum of Vitrurios, "i
ler decastyla fuere"; kttktw.
for the Hexastyle Temples tilt
re hypaothral. Theautktli
in another work observes, 4s
lple, " the proof of tie Partis::
is solely upon the capacity oft
productions in architecture ills''
rdinn- theopisthodornus,ks;v:
e observation, I am convincede
me within this division of tlefc
unbent on us to controvert, fsc
: been discovered, and sifefc
rent architects, of dimensioisE
ted to remove all doubtsontks
-istyliumoftbetemple.It^
ruction, tohavebeenprottf
way has been removed; iihj
astyle. But is it mco-rt*
ed, in speaking of to*
i„s, written for the
on had produced a!
in arrangement of eifej
ice. that when be * f
nation of h^$
10„e point of v«
iers that they ^ We
me„sions,andmr „,.,;:
^ would result ££j
t when he says, tto„
probable that taf»^
> temple at
celebrated
::■:
even
by*
Olymp^*
lifices, odd
countrymen ^a"a^v;
previously set «* ^
the wnrd
CALLED THE PARTHENON AND HECATOMPEDON 31
I shall now remark the particulars in which the Parthenon agrees with what Vitruvius hath
here delivered.
The description I have quoted from Wheler, shews that this temple, when he saw it, had within
the cell on each side, two rows of columns one above the othera, standing at a distance from the wall.
The decorations on the eastern front, prove the principal entrance to have been originally placed
there ; though it was most probably closed by the Greek Christians, because otherwise they could not
have placed their Communion Table at the east end of the temple, a custom they always religiously
observe. It is likewise evident, that the door we now see in the western front was originally there, for
the threshold or step into it still remains; and thus far the construction of this temple agrees with
what Vitruvius has delivered, and favours my opinion. It is true the roof with which it was com-
pletely covered when Wheler and Spon, and other travellers examined it, may seem to furnish a plau-
sible objection to what I have here advanced ; but as great additions and alterations have certainly
been made, to adapt it to the performance of the numerous ceremonies of the Greek ritual, and the
pompous functions of the archbishop and his attendant clergy, it is extremely probable that the roof
was completed at the same time ; and this supposition will acquire additional support, when we con-
sider that the space between the columns did not much exceed thirty feet, and must have been covered
t
in, before it was fit for the reception of a Christian congregation ; and that this work would not have
been of a more expensive kind, nor have required greater skill in the execution, than the alterations
which Wheler and Spon inform us were made in the eastern endb.
Another objection may be deduced from what Vitruvius himself has said (Book IV. Chap. VII.),
where, enumerating several deviations from the usual form of temples, he tells usc, " Temples are also
built of other kinds, ordered with the same proportions, but differently disposed, as that of Castor, in
the Circus Flaminius, and that of Vejovis, between the two groves ; also, but more ingeniously, that
of Diana Nemorensis, with columns added to the right and left on the shoulders of the pronaos ; but
this kind of temple, like that of Castor, in the Circus, was first erected in the Fortress of Athens to
Minerva"," &c.
Vitruvius having already told us, that there was no Hypasthros at Rome, seems, by remarking
the similarity between those Temples he has here enumerated, and that of Minerva in the Acropolis,
to furnish a proof that the latter was not an Hypsethros; but it must be observed, that in this place
he is treating of the disposition of the external columns only.
It appears extraordinary, that in the account Vitruvius has given of the Hypasthros, the exam-
ples he produces are exceptions to his doctrine ; but we may be the less surprised at it, as the same
sider with Stuart, (but with deference to those eminent
scholars who have subsequently studied the passage in question),
that this word belongs to, and is applied by way of exception, as
far as regards the decastyle and dipteral arrangement, to the Par-
thenon, and adopting the el as a positive part of the text, the re-
mainder may indifferently appertain either to the Temple of Olym-
pia, which though Hexastyle was hypasthral, or the Olympieum at
Athens. Vide Finis Pyramidis, 8vo. Chap. XIII. Wilkins's Ant.
of Magna Grcecia. Int. Civil Architecture of Vitruvius, Sect. I.
Chap. I. Kose,Insc. Gracai, p. 179- Wilkins's Atheniensia, p. 107-
Hawkins's Top. of Athens in Walpole's Memoirs, p. 489. [ed.]
* See note c page 25. LEV-1
b The following extract of a letter will assist us in this dis-
quisition : it was written by a captain in the Venetian army, who
was present at the siege and the surrender of the Acropolis in
the year 1687, and 1688.
The cupolas here mentioned sufficiently prove that this
ceiling of the Parthenon was no part of the original temple, but
that it was the work of more modern Greeks; for thus they der
coratedthe church of Sancta Sophia, at Constantinople, and many
other churches built by them during the time of the Coustanti-
nopolitan emperors.
c Item generibus aliis constituuntur iEdcs, ex iisdem symmc-
triis ordinata;, & alio genere dispositions habentes; uti est Cas-
toris in circo Flaminio, et inter duos Lucos Vejovis. Item
argutius nemori Diance, columnis adjectis dextra ac sinistra ad
humeros Pronai. Hoc autcm genere primo facta aides, uti est
Castoris in Circo, Athenis in arce Minerva;, &c. Vitr. 1. iv. c. 7-
p. 158.
d This reference to the Temple of Minerva on the Acropolis,
is supposed by several recent commentators on Vitruvius, to be-
long to that of Minerva Polias, in relation to the disposition of
rEradetto Tempio in forma di Parallclogrammo: le mura tbe tetrastyle portico of the Ercchthcum, (c columnis adjectis
tutte composte di famosissimo marmo bianco, le colonne die dextra ac sinistra ad humeros Pronai;') which, if it were the ease,
1'accompagnavano erano al numcro di 60. sopra le quali posava un would remove the objection here anticipated by our author. The
Cielo di orandissima mole ; in alcuni luoghi per ornamento, vi reader will find in the description of the plan of the Parthenon,
erano alcune cupole le di cui estremita si componevano di mattoni plate V. page 37, continued remarks and annotations by Stuart
a musaico, in una di queste caddc la bomba." 'Lettere memo- and the editor, on the disputed passage in question. [ed.]
rabile di Bulifone, raccolta seconda', p. 86.
it was
compi
leted and i