DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4266#0155
4 EXPLANATORY DESCRIPTION OF PLATES.
This capital, by some mischance, has been omitted by Stuart; it is therefore given in this
volume to complete the details of this temple. The diameter of these columns is less than that of the
columns of the peristyle, but the relative proportions are nearly the same. The flutings are much mu-
tilated, the holes are, however, still visible, into which the bronze railing and gates were probably in-
serted*.
PLATE III.
DORIC ENTABLATURE AT ATHENS.
This early specimen of the Doric order, forms a part of the north side of the wall which sur-
rounds the Acropolis. According to Plutarchb, the north side was originally built by the Pelasgi, but
being afterwards demolished by the Persians in their invasion of Greece, upon their retreat, it was
hastily repaired by Themistocles, with the ruins of the various buildings that lay around. This forms
some ground for concluding these pieces of entablature to have belonged to an ancient temple of
Minerva, called the Hecatompedon, as there was no other building on the Acropolis, mentioned by
any author, whose dimensions would at all correspond with the entablature now given. The style of
the order also evidently marks a period considerably antecedent to the age of Ictinus, as that sys-
tematic arrangement of the parts is wanting which obtained from that time, and which is to be found
in all the other present remains of the Doric order. It is composed of a calcareous and friable stone
of an ochreous tint, the workmanship good, and the composition of a very bold and manly character.
There are several frusta of Doric columns also on the same side of the wall, and no doubt belonging to
the same temple ; they are about six feet in diameter, with twenty flutings at the top and bottom only,
like those of Thorikos, Delos, and Eleusis.
PLATE IV.
THE ENTASIS OF VARIOUS COLUMNS.
Fig. 1. Entasis of the columns of the Portico of the Propylsea at Athens.
2. Do. Do. of the North Wing of the Propylsea.
3. Do. Do. of the Temple of Theseus.
4. Do. Do. of the Temple of Minerva, or Parthenon.
5. Do. Do. of the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates.
PLATE V.
THE ENTASIS OF VARIOUS COLUMNS.
Fig. 1. Entasis of the columns of the North Portico of the Triple Temple, termed the Erech-
theum.
The state of these remains of antiquity must be at all times, some inches from each other, without however injuring this vase,
but especially during this period of war and devastation, a source so as to endanger the stability of the edifice, and without having
of anxious interest, to all the lovers of the fine arts; and we are touched any other. One of the pieces forming the architrave of
sorry to find, that what has hitherto escaped the various assaults this angle, and facing the west, was forced out of its line six or
of the belligerent forces, has become a prey to the lightning and eight inches, together with its triglyph and metope, and it re-
the tempest. The following is an extract from a letter which mains so. The first lateral metope was also removed from its
a e y appeared in the New Monthly Magazine, and purported place, and remains at present standing out at one side, like a
to come from an eye-witness of the dilapidations. " With re- door ajar. After having done this mischief, the lightning pene-
spect to the Temple of Theseus, a few days after the occupation trated the earth under the same angle, cracked the upper marble
°f V ^fi by the Greek trooPs> ligntnJng struck the nw. angle step, and displaced several of the courses of the large blocks of
ot the edlhce, threw down five or six feet of the corner of the freestone for the basement."
cornice, and descending in the corner column, completely split, from » Plutarch's Life of Cimon.
top to bottom, the fourth vase (frustum), separating the two halves
This capital, by some mischance, has been omitted by Stuart; it is therefore given in this
volume to complete the details of this temple. The diameter of these columns is less than that of the
columns of the peristyle, but the relative proportions are nearly the same. The flutings are much mu-
tilated, the holes are, however, still visible, into which the bronze railing and gates were probably in-
serted*.
PLATE III.
DORIC ENTABLATURE AT ATHENS.
This early specimen of the Doric order, forms a part of the north side of the wall which sur-
rounds the Acropolis. According to Plutarchb, the north side was originally built by the Pelasgi, but
being afterwards demolished by the Persians in their invasion of Greece, upon their retreat, it was
hastily repaired by Themistocles, with the ruins of the various buildings that lay around. This forms
some ground for concluding these pieces of entablature to have belonged to an ancient temple of
Minerva, called the Hecatompedon, as there was no other building on the Acropolis, mentioned by
any author, whose dimensions would at all correspond with the entablature now given. The style of
the order also evidently marks a period considerably antecedent to the age of Ictinus, as that sys-
tematic arrangement of the parts is wanting which obtained from that time, and which is to be found
in all the other present remains of the Doric order. It is composed of a calcareous and friable stone
of an ochreous tint, the workmanship good, and the composition of a very bold and manly character.
There are several frusta of Doric columns also on the same side of the wall, and no doubt belonging to
the same temple ; they are about six feet in diameter, with twenty flutings at the top and bottom only,
like those of Thorikos, Delos, and Eleusis.
PLATE IV.
THE ENTASIS OF VARIOUS COLUMNS.
Fig. 1. Entasis of the columns of the Portico of the Propylsea at Athens.
2. Do. Do. of the North Wing of the Propylsea.
3. Do. Do. of the Temple of Theseus.
4. Do. Do. of the Temple of Minerva, or Parthenon.
5. Do. Do. of the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates.
PLATE V.
THE ENTASIS OF VARIOUS COLUMNS.
Fig. 1. Entasis of the columns of the North Portico of the Triple Temple, termed the Erech-
theum.
The state of these remains of antiquity must be at all times, some inches from each other, without however injuring this vase,
but especially during this period of war and devastation, a source so as to endanger the stability of the edifice, and without having
of anxious interest, to all the lovers of the fine arts; and we are touched any other. One of the pieces forming the architrave of
sorry to find, that what has hitherto escaped the various assaults this angle, and facing the west, was forced out of its line six or
of the belligerent forces, has become a prey to the lightning and eight inches, together with its triglyph and metope, and it re-
the tempest. The following is an extract from a letter which mains so. The first lateral metope was also removed from its
a e y appeared in the New Monthly Magazine, and purported place, and remains at present standing out at one side, like a
to come from an eye-witness of the dilapidations. " With re- door ajar. After having done this mischief, the lightning pene-
spect to the Temple of Theseus, a few days after the occupation trated the earth under the same angle, cracked the upper marble
°f V ^fi by the Greek trooPs> ligntnJng struck the nw. angle step, and displaced several of the courses of the large blocks of
ot the edlhce, threw down five or six feet of the corner of the freestone for the basement."
cornice, and descending in the corner column, completely split, from » Plutarch's Life of Cimon.
top to bottom, the fourth vase (frustum), separating the two halves