An Abridgment of the Architecture of Vitruvius Part 10

[Sidenote: _Lib. 4. Chap. 4._]

[Sidenote: _Lib. 3. Chap. 3._]

The _Temples_ which had _Pillars_ round about, could not have this double Proportion; for as much as the length had only the double of the intercolumniations, and by consequence a _Pillar_ less than the double of the _Pillars_ before and behind.

The _Aspect_ of the _Temples_ signifies two things in _Vitruvius_, _viz._ The Disposition of the parts of the _Temple_, in respect of one another, and the Disposition in respect of the Heavens.

As to what regards the Disposition of the _Temple_ in respect of the Heavens, the Ancients always observed to turn them toward the Sun-rising, if the place were not ill-disposed for it, and that some great Street obliged them to turn it otherwise.

As to what belongs to the Disposition of the parts, _viz._ of the _Porch_, _Portic.u.m_, _Isles_ or _Oiles_ within the _Temple_ and the _Gates_, it was different in the _Temples_ which were without _Pillars_, and in those which had _Pillars_.

[Sidenote: _Lib. 4. Chap. 4._]

The _Temples_ without _Pillars_, were those that were not 20 Foot broad, the length of these _Temples_ being divided into 8, 4 were allowed for the breadth, 5 for the length of the _Temple_ within, and 3 for the _Porch_.

[Sidenote: _Lib. 3. Chap. 1._]

The _Temples_ which had _Pillars_ were of 8 sorts; The 1st. and the most Simple, was that which was called _Ad Antes_, because in this sort of _Temples_, there were only 2 _Pillars_ in the Face or Front before, betwixt 2 _Antes_. There was 3 sorts of these _Temples_.

The First and the most Simple, had 2 _Pillars_ before the Face of the _Temple_, at whose Corners there were 2 _Antes_, and the 2 _Pillars_ supported a _Piedement_ or _Fronton_.

The Second Sort had likewise but 2 _Pillars_, but they were between 2 _Antes_ upon the same Line with the _Antes_; and these _Antes_ with the 2 _Pillars_, made up the _Face_ of the _Porch_ of the _Temple_.

The Third Sort was, when betwixt 2 _Pillars_ which were at the _Face_ before, which made up the _Porch_, there were likewise 2 others within the _Porch_; these _Pillars_ within, were not so thick as those without, although they were of an equal height; but to the end they might seem as thick as those without, they made more _Channellings_, for the most part 28 or 32, supposing those without had 24; this was done to get more room within the _Porch_. These _Temples_ had also this particular to themselves, that the Front of the _Porch_ was closed with Part.i.tions of _Marble_ or _Joyner's-Work_, which ran from the _Ante_ of one of the Corners to its neighbouring _Pillar_, and from this _Ante_ to the other _Pillar_, and from this _Pillar_ to the other _Ante_.

The second Sort of _Temples_, with _Pillars_, was called _Prostyle_; which differ'd not from the first, but in this, that besides the 2 _Pillars_ of the _Temple_, _Ad Antes_, there were two others directly on the Angular _Antes_.

The Third Sort was called _Amphiprostyle_; because it had _Pillars_ as well behind as before.

The Fourth Sort was the _Periptere_, which in the Front, as well as behind, had 6 _Pillars_, and 12 on every side, counting those of the Corners: the distance which was between the _Pillars_ and the _Walls_, was equal to that which was between the _Pillars_.

The Fifth, the _Pseud-diptere_, viz. _False Diptere_, it had 8 _Pillars_ in the _Front_, and as many behind, and 15 on every side, counting those of the Corners: the _Pillars_ were distant from the Wall, the s.p.a.ce of 2 Intercolumniations, and the thickness of a _Pillar_.

The Sixth Sort was the _Diptere_, which had 8 _Pillars_ before and behind, and 2 rows round about.

The Seventh Sort was called _Hypethre_, because the inner part of the _Temple_ was uncovered, it had 10 _Pillars_ before and behind; and as to the rest, it was like the _Diptere_, but in this particular to it self, that all about it had two Orders of _Pillars_, at a little distance from the Wall, to make _Portico's_, as in the _Peristyles_.

The Eighth was called _Pseudo-Periptere_, or _False Periptere_; for the Disposition of the _Pillars_ was equal to that of the _Pillars_ of the _Periptere_: This _Temple_ having 6 _Pillars_ in the _Front_, and behind, and 11 in the _Isles_ or _Wings_; but the Disposition of the Walls of the _Temple_ was different in this, that they extended even to the _Pillars_, which made no _Portico_, for they were joyned to the Walls, except those of the _Porch_ which were insulated, or stood alone like Islands.

The Round _Temples_ were of 2 sorts; The first were called _Monopteres_, because they had no Walls, having only an _Isle_ or _Wing_; viz.

_Pillars_ which supported a _Coupe_. Their Proportion was, that dividing the whole _Temple_ into three, one part was allowed for the _Steps_ upon which the _Pillars_ were placed, which had their height equal to the distance that there was from one _Pillar_, to that which was Diametrically opposite to it.

The Second Sort which was called _Periptere_, had _Pillars_ upon their _Basis_ round about the _Temple_, the s.p.a.ce that was between the _Basis_ and the _Wall_ was the 5th. part of the whole _Temple_, and the Diameter of the _Temple_ within, was equal to the height of the _Pillar_.

The _Temples_ after the _Tuscan_ fashion were square, having 5 parts in length and 4 in breadth; the _Porch_ which was as great as the rest of the _Temple_, had 4 _Pillars_ in the _Front_; the Sides were closed half by the Continuation of the Walls of the _Temple_, half by 2 _Angular Pillars_; and there were likewise 2 _Pillars_ in the middle of the _Porch_: The _Temple_ had 2 _Chappels_ within on each Side.

We find that the Ancients had 14 Sorts of _Temples_, viz. 1. The Temple without _Pillars_. 2. The Temple _ad antes_ Simply. 3. The Temple _ad Antes_, with 2 _Pillars_ upon the same Line with the _Antes_. 4. The Temple _ad antes_, with _Pillars_ of an unequal Magnitude. 5. The _Prostyle_. 6. The _Amphiprostyle_. 7. The _Periptere_. 8. The _Pseudo-diptere_. 9. The _Diptere_. 10. The _Hypethre_. 11. The _Pseudo-Periptere_. 12. The _Monoptere_. 13. The _Round Periptere_. 14.

The _Tuscan_. See the Tab. 2, 3, 4.

ART. III.

_Of Publick Places_, Basilica's, Theatres, Gates, Baths _and_ Academies.

[Sidenote: _Lib. 5. Chap. 1._]

The Third Sort of _Publick Fabricks_ are those which are Built for the Convenience and Use of all People; and there are Six Sorts of them, viz.

_Market-Places_, _Basilica's_, _Theatres_, _Gates_, _Baths_ and _Academies_.

The _Market-Places_ among the _Greeks_ were surrounded with Pillars close one against another. Among the _Romans_, the Pillars which environed the _Market-Places_, had larger Intercolumniations, for they made _Peristyles_, under which were Shops.

The Proportion of the _Market-Places_ was so ordered, that having divided the length into three parts, they allowed two for the breadth; the _Basilica's_ had never less breadth than the third part of their length, nor more than the half.

The Pillars were as high as the Isles or Wings were broad, and these Isles or Wings had a third part of the great Vault in the middle.

There was likewise a Second rank of Pillars upon the Wings, which made high Galleries, and these Second rank of Pillars were placed upon a _Pedestal_ in the form of a Part.i.tion, high enough to hinder those that were in the high Galleries from being seen by those that were below.

At the End of every _Basilica_, there was a high and great Hall called _Chalcidiques_, which were joyned one to another by high Galleries: they served the Spectators while Justice was distributed.

The _Theaters_ were composed of three parts, _viz._ The Steps or Degrees, which were instead of Seats for the Spectators: they were disposed in a Semi-circle, and they closed a void s.p.a.ce in the middle and at the bottom of the whole _Theater_, which was called the _Orchestra_.

[Sidenote: _Lib. 5. Chap. 6._]

The _Orchestra_ was made in the _Graecian Theatre_, to Dance the Ballets.

The Senators were placed in that of the _Romans_, because the Ballets were Danced upon the Scene.

[Sidenote: _Lib. 5. Chap. 6._]

[Sidenote: _Lib. 5. Chap. 6._]

Above and quite round the Steps or Degrees was a _Portico_ of Pillars, the Steps being separated by divers _Palliers_ or Landing and Resting places which went round, and by streight pa.s.sages which went ascending from one _Palliere_ or Landing place to another; so that the ways which led from the second _Palliere_ to the third, parted betwixt those of the first, and ended betwixt those of the third. The Steps or Degrees were 14 or 15 Inches high, and from 28 to 30 broad.

Under the Degrees, above every _Palliere_, there were in the great _Theaters_ 13 _Chambers_, in which were Vessels of Bra.s.s, set to several Tunes, or Tones; which by their Echo augmented the Voice of the Players.

The Scene or Stage, was composed of the _Pulpit_, the _Proscenium_ and the _Parascenium_. The _Pulpit_ was the place where the Actors played: it was raised not above five Foot at the most above the _Orchestra_, or _Pit_.

The _Proscenium_ was the Front of the Stage, which was adorned with Pillars of several sorts one above another. These Orders were so proportioned, that the second was a fourth part lesser than the first.

The third diminishing according to the same Proportion.

The Front had three Gates, that in the middle which was the greatest was called the _Royal Gate_, the two others were called the _Gates of Strangers_.

[Sidenote: _Lib. 5._]

These three Gates were closed with Machines, made in a Triangle, and composed of three Fronts or Faces well Painted, to represent Buildings in Perspective; they served for the changing of the Scenes, when these Machines were turned. And the Paintings represented three sorts of Buildings, which made three sorts of Scenes, _viz._ The _Tragick_ by _Magnificent Pallaces_, the _Comick_ by _Private Houses_, the _Satyrical_ (_i. e._ the _Pastoral_) by _Fields_ and _Groves_.

The _Parascenium_ or _Postscenium_ was the hinder part of the _Theater_, and the place whither the Actors retired and dressed themselves, and had their Rehearsals, and where the Machines were kept. Near the _Theaters_, were Publick Walks, in length a _Stadium_, which is about 90 _Perches_.

There were Trees planted, and round about it were double _Porticos_, which were every one as broad as the Pillars on the out-side were high; for those within were higher by a fifth part, than those without, and they were likewise of a different _Order_; for those without were of the _Dorick Order_, and those within of the _Ionick_ or _Corinthian_.

[Sidenote: _Lib. 5. Chap. 13._]