DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4266#0009
DESCRIPTION OF PLATES. 7
tablature at the south side of the temple, and portions of the moulding forming the fascia under the
cill, are found among the ruins a. At the west end of the site, fragments of the Tympanum, with
portions of sculpture attached in very high relief, are discovered, shewing that the Tympanum, inde-
pendent of the sculpture, measures 11' 4" in thickness.
The sculpture was probably executed after the stones were laid in their places, having been
built up in courses which were subsequently carved; in the manner often employed in modern
buildings.
A restoration has been attempted, in order to convey some idea of the probable number of
figures according to the scale of these fragments, and (however imperfectly) of the original effect of
the building.
The number of courses of stone is described by lines on the plate, and it is to be observed
that a thin coating of plaster resembling the finest marble covered the whole building, but no traces
of cement in the joints were discoverable in any part.
PLATE III.
Transverse section of the temple, drawn in perspective to shew the effect of the porticoes and the
interior of the cella. The roof of the former, it has already been said, was never completed.
The cella was doubtless intended to be hypaethral, according to the usage in all the temples of
the higher divinitiesb. The height of the pilaster is supposed to be 53 feet 6 inches, under the pre-
sumption that the cornice attached to the back of the epistyliumc was that of the interior order ; the
entablature would then accord with the lintel of the window, and a due height would be left for the
attic or superior order, which, supported by Telamones d, formed a magnificent decoration to the cellae.
The Agrigentine architect could have found no more appropriate supports to the roof of the
temple, than the rebellious Titans, whose mighty forms are thus made to contribute to the glory of
Olympian Jove, and the omnipotence they had dared to oppose.
There are no remains of the order of the transverse wall, which in all probability, like the
external face, had a pilaster in the centre. The method of fortifying the wall of the cella by pro-
jecting pilasters, is observed in the temple of Apollo at Branchida?, and in that of Phigaleia.
PLATE IV.
LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF THE CELLA.
PLATE V.
Exterior order. The podium particularly remarked by Diodorus Siculus, formed a magnificent
platform for the reception of this temple. It stood upon the native rock, and was raised in solid
courses up to the level of the floor throughout the whole superficies of the plan. These courses were
alternately placed diagonally, and a perpendicular joint separated the pavement from the wall of the
peristyle. A peculiarity of the construction may here also be remarked, as applying to the walls and
• See description of frontispiece. is figured to us as in the attitude of sustaining the heavens."
b Vitruvius, L. I. C. II. I" VI. C. X. On a medal, given by Havercamp, (Numism. Reg.
c See description of Plate V. Christ. Tab. 19,) is the representation of a temple, on which is an
d We may infer from Vitruvius, that the use of these figures order of Telamones. It appears that the Attic order of the Pan-
was frequent; for he says, " we call those statues resembling the theon at Rome was originally decorated with Telamones.
human figure which sustain beams or cornices, Telamones ; but • The width of the cella between the pilasters is two feet two
why they are so called, history gives us no reason ; certain it inches more than the nave of St. Paul's, and the height exceeds
is, however, the Greeks call them Atlantes. Atlas, in history, it by eighteen feet. *
tablature at the south side of the temple, and portions of the moulding forming the fascia under the
cill, are found among the ruins a. At the west end of the site, fragments of the Tympanum, with
portions of sculpture attached in very high relief, are discovered, shewing that the Tympanum, inde-
pendent of the sculpture, measures 11' 4" in thickness.
The sculpture was probably executed after the stones were laid in their places, having been
built up in courses which were subsequently carved; in the manner often employed in modern
buildings.
A restoration has been attempted, in order to convey some idea of the probable number of
figures according to the scale of these fragments, and (however imperfectly) of the original effect of
the building.
The number of courses of stone is described by lines on the plate, and it is to be observed
that a thin coating of plaster resembling the finest marble covered the whole building, but no traces
of cement in the joints were discoverable in any part.
PLATE III.
Transverse section of the temple, drawn in perspective to shew the effect of the porticoes and the
interior of the cella. The roof of the former, it has already been said, was never completed.
The cella was doubtless intended to be hypaethral, according to the usage in all the temples of
the higher divinitiesb. The height of the pilaster is supposed to be 53 feet 6 inches, under the pre-
sumption that the cornice attached to the back of the epistyliumc was that of the interior order ; the
entablature would then accord with the lintel of the window, and a due height would be left for the
attic or superior order, which, supported by Telamones d, formed a magnificent decoration to the cellae.
The Agrigentine architect could have found no more appropriate supports to the roof of the
temple, than the rebellious Titans, whose mighty forms are thus made to contribute to the glory of
Olympian Jove, and the omnipotence they had dared to oppose.
There are no remains of the order of the transverse wall, which in all probability, like the
external face, had a pilaster in the centre. The method of fortifying the wall of the cella by pro-
jecting pilasters, is observed in the temple of Apollo at Branchida?, and in that of Phigaleia.
PLATE IV.
LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF THE CELLA.
PLATE V.
Exterior order. The podium particularly remarked by Diodorus Siculus, formed a magnificent
platform for the reception of this temple. It stood upon the native rock, and was raised in solid
courses up to the level of the floor throughout the whole superficies of the plan. These courses were
alternately placed diagonally, and a perpendicular joint separated the pavement from the wall of the
peristyle. A peculiarity of the construction may here also be remarked, as applying to the walls and
• See description of frontispiece. is figured to us as in the attitude of sustaining the heavens."
b Vitruvius, L. I. C. II. I" VI. C. X. On a medal, given by Havercamp, (Numism. Reg.
c See description of Plate V. Christ. Tab. 19,) is the representation of a temple, on which is an
d We may infer from Vitruvius, that the use of these figures order of Telamones. It appears that the Attic order of the Pan-
was frequent; for he says, " we call those statues resembling the theon at Rome was originally decorated with Telamones.
human figure which sustain beams or cornices, Telamones ; but • The width of the cella between the pilasters is two feet two
why they are so called, history gives us no reason ; certain it inches more than the nave of St. Paul's, and the height exceeds
is, however, the Greeks call them Atlantes. Atlas, in history, it by eighteen feet. *