DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2532#0133
THE OLD TEMPLE
111
At a distance of 7.18 m. north of the stylobate is a base built of irregular stones.
This base measures 1.80 m. square, as is shown on the plan.1 In my restoration of the
ground plan of the Old Temple (Fig. 50), I have assumed this base to be part of the
foundation of the old statue of Hera, and to lie on the longitudinal axis of the building.
North and south of this axis and at equal distances from it I found slight indications of
what I assumed to be the foundations of the cella-walls. The superstructure may have
been of sun-dried bricks, since no definite vestiges remain.
I continued the peristyle by spacing the columns three and one half metres on centres
(B, C, D, Pig. 50), following the indications on the stylobate before mentioned, and
found that one of the columns of the pronaos (A, Fig. 50) coincided exactly with a
mason's centring mark on a stone 24.90 m. east of the base of the statue. The stone
is shown on the plan (Plate VIII.). The result of the calculation was a hexastyle tem-
ple with fourteen columns on the side and a cella 36.30 m. long and 8.50 m. wide, or
with width to length about as 1: !j. The proportions of the naos inside are, width to
length, as 1:1. This is about the proportion which we should expect to find in a temple
of great antiquity.2
My restoration of the entablature and roof is entirely hypothetical and illustrates only
the possible appearance of the temple. I have assumed that the beam ends showed with
Fig. 50. — Argive Heraeum : Old Temple plan : restored.
open spaces between them, which seems to have been the early method of Doric con-
struction, whence were developed later the triglyphs and the metopes.3
The orientation of the building is 17° 18' south of east. The heliacal orientation of
its axis may assist in determining the antiquity of the building.4
expect stone columns and walls even though the entabla-
ture of wood remained.
1 This may he the foundation of an altar. Close by-
it is a hole surrounded by irregular stones, which may be
the remains of a sacrificial pit similar to that discov-
ered by Dr. Dbrpfeld at Tiryns.
2 The proportions of the Heraeum at Olympia are as
follows : —
Exterior width of cella to its length as 1 to 3.30.
Interior width of naos to its length as 1 to 3.80.
The Temple C at Selinus : —
Exterior widtli of cella to its length about as 1 to 4.
Interior width of naos to its length about as 1 to 3.
Temple S at Selinus : —
Interior width of naos to its length about as 1 to 4.
Cf. Durm, Die Bwikunst der Griechen, p. 114, and
Perrot et Chipiez, Histoire de VArl dans I'Antiquite, tome
VII. chap. III.
1 Following this suggestion, Dr. Waldstein obtained a
letter on the subject from Dr. Penrose. Cf. Introduc-
tion, page 29.
111
At a distance of 7.18 m. north of the stylobate is a base built of irregular stones.
This base measures 1.80 m. square, as is shown on the plan.1 In my restoration of the
ground plan of the Old Temple (Fig. 50), I have assumed this base to be part of the
foundation of the old statue of Hera, and to lie on the longitudinal axis of the building.
North and south of this axis and at equal distances from it I found slight indications of
what I assumed to be the foundations of the cella-walls. The superstructure may have
been of sun-dried bricks, since no definite vestiges remain.
I continued the peristyle by spacing the columns three and one half metres on centres
(B, C, D, Pig. 50), following the indications on the stylobate before mentioned, and
found that one of the columns of the pronaos (A, Fig. 50) coincided exactly with a
mason's centring mark on a stone 24.90 m. east of the base of the statue. The stone
is shown on the plan (Plate VIII.). The result of the calculation was a hexastyle tem-
ple with fourteen columns on the side and a cella 36.30 m. long and 8.50 m. wide, or
with width to length about as 1: !j. The proportions of the naos inside are, width to
length, as 1:1. This is about the proportion which we should expect to find in a temple
of great antiquity.2
My restoration of the entablature and roof is entirely hypothetical and illustrates only
the possible appearance of the temple. I have assumed that the beam ends showed with
Fig. 50. — Argive Heraeum : Old Temple plan : restored.
open spaces between them, which seems to have been the early method of Doric con-
struction, whence were developed later the triglyphs and the metopes.3
The orientation of the building is 17° 18' south of east. The heliacal orientation of
its axis may assist in determining the antiquity of the building.4
expect stone columns and walls even though the entabla-
ture of wood remained.
1 This may he the foundation of an altar. Close by-
it is a hole surrounded by irregular stones, which may be
the remains of a sacrificial pit similar to that discov-
ered by Dr. Dbrpfeld at Tiryns.
2 The proportions of the Heraeum at Olympia are as
follows : —
Exterior width of cella to its length as 1 to 3.30.
Interior width of naos to its length as 1 to 3.80.
The Temple C at Selinus : —
Exterior widtli of cella to its length about as 1 to 4.
Interior width of naos to its length about as 1 to 3.
Temple S at Selinus : —
Interior width of naos to its length about as 1 to 4.
Cf. Durm, Die Bwikunst der Griechen, p. 114, and
Perrot et Chipiez, Histoire de VArl dans I'Antiquite, tome
VII. chap. III.
1 Following this suggestion, Dr. Waldstein obtained a
letter on the subject from Dr. Penrose. Cf. Introduc-
tion, page 29.