DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5009#0033
TEMPLE*. 15
Section III.—TEMPLES.
Tkmplks arc sacred edifices destined to the worship of the divinity.
All nations have raised them, and the piety which founded them
hastened the progress of architecture by the desire to render these
edifices more worthy of their destination. The Egyptians have
surpassed all nations in the extent and magnificence of these public
monuments; they had ancient temples when the oracle of Delphi
dwelt in a cabin of laurels, and the Jupiter of Dodona had but an
old oak for an abode.
Ei/ijptian.—The temple, properly so called, or the cells, or adytum.
was in the form of a square, or an oblong square. It was there that
the god dwelt, represented by his living symbol, which superstitious
minds have taken for the divinity itself. The religious rituals pre-
scribed in all its minutiae the order of the service of the priests
towards these sacred animals, the representatives of the god, chosen
and pointed out according to exterior signs prescribed by the ritual.
The adytum, or 0-77*0?, the principal part of the temple, is always
the most ancient part, and bears the name of the king who bad it
built and dedicated. The plans of the different temples of Egypt
display a great diversity, but evince a certain uniformity in the
principal parts. An Egyqitian temple, as Mr. Fergusson remarks,
is an aggregation of parts around a small but sacred centre, which
have been gradually elaborated during several centuries. The
larger temples were generally approached by an avenue of sphinxes,
and a pair of obelisks was placed in front of the pylons. We
extract the following description of the temple known as the
Ehamossion, from Mr. Eergusson's " Handbook," as affording an accu-
rate general description of an Egyptian temple. The whole temple
was built by lihamses the Great, in the fifteenth century, b.c. Its
facade is formed by two great pylons, or pyramidal masses of masonry,
which are the most a23propriate and most imposing pari of the
structure externally. Between these is the entrance doorway (pro-
pylon), leading almost invariably into a great square court-yard,
with porticoes, always on two, and sometimes on three sides. This
leads to an inner court, smaller, but far more splendid, than the
first. On the two sides of this court, through which iho central
passage leads, are square piers with colossi in front, and on the
right and left are double ranges of circular columns, which are con-
tinued also behind the square piers fronting the entrance. Passing
Section III.—TEMPLES.
Tkmplks arc sacred edifices destined to the worship of the divinity.
All nations have raised them, and the piety which founded them
hastened the progress of architecture by the desire to render these
edifices more worthy of their destination. The Egyptians have
surpassed all nations in the extent and magnificence of these public
monuments; they had ancient temples when the oracle of Delphi
dwelt in a cabin of laurels, and the Jupiter of Dodona had but an
old oak for an abode.
Ei/ijptian.—The temple, properly so called, or the cells, or adytum.
was in the form of a square, or an oblong square. It was there that
the god dwelt, represented by his living symbol, which superstitious
minds have taken for the divinity itself. The religious rituals pre-
scribed in all its minutiae the order of the service of the priests
towards these sacred animals, the representatives of the god, chosen
and pointed out according to exterior signs prescribed by the ritual.
The adytum, or 0-77*0?, the principal part of the temple, is always
the most ancient part, and bears the name of the king who bad it
built and dedicated. The plans of the different temples of Egypt
display a great diversity, but evince a certain uniformity in the
principal parts. An Egyqitian temple, as Mr. Fergusson remarks,
is an aggregation of parts around a small but sacred centre, which
have been gradually elaborated during several centuries. The
larger temples were generally approached by an avenue of sphinxes,
and a pair of obelisks was placed in front of the pylons. We
extract the following description of the temple known as the
Ehamossion, from Mr. Eergusson's " Handbook," as affording an accu-
rate general description of an Egyptian temple. The whole temple
was built by lihamses the Great, in the fifteenth century, b.c. Its
facade is formed by two great pylons, or pyramidal masses of masonry,
which are the most a23propriate and most imposing pari of the
structure externally. Between these is the entrance doorway (pro-
pylon), leading almost invariably into a great square court-yard,
with porticoes, always on two, and sometimes on three sides. This
leads to an inner court, smaller, but far more splendid, than the
first. On the two sides of this court, through which iho central
passage leads, are square piers with colossi in front, and on the
right and left are double ranges of circular columns, which are con-
tinued also behind the square piers fronting the entrance. Passing