An Abridgment of the Architecture of Vitruvius Part 14

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Plate VI._]

THE EXPLICATION Of the SEVENTH TABLE.

This contains the Proportions of the _Jonick_ Order and the _Attick_ Base: A is the Plinth of the _Attick_ Base, which is the third part of the whole Base, of which the upper part is the fourth part of what remains after the Plinth is taken; the inferiour part is half of what remains, and the other half is the _Scotia_. C D is the Plinth of the Jonick Base, which is the third part of the height of the whole Base. E is the Thorus which contains three parts of seven, into which is divided what remains, the other four being for the two _Scotia's_, and the two Astragals, which are betwixt the Thorns and the Plinth. F is the Capital, whose Proportion is explained in the eighth Table. G, H, I, K is the Architrave, which has four parts, _viz._ the Face marked G; the second marked H; the third marked I, and the _Cymatium_ or _Simaise_, marked K; L is the Frise. M, N, O, P, Q is the Cornice. M is the first _Cymatium_; N is the Dentil; O is the second _Cymatium_; P is the Crown with its little _Cymatium_ or _Simaise_.

This Table relates to _pag._ 101.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Plate VII_]

The EXPLICATION Of the EIGHTH TABLE.

This contains the Proportions of the Ionick Capital, of which only half is seen here: A B is the half of the breadth of the Abacus, which is regulated according to the breadth of the bottom of the Column, of which one half is marked B 18; for the bottom of the Column being divided into 18, 19 are allowed to the Abacus: A C is the _Retreat_ which must be made of the Corner A, of the Abacus inwardly, to draw the Line C D, which must regulate the _Eye_ of the _Volute_ over which it must cross as it pa.s.ses. To make this _Retreat_ we must take one part and a half of twelve, into which is divided the height or thickness, E F, of the whole Capital, which height is equal to half the breadth of the Abacus. This height, marked C D, is divided into nine parts and a half, of which one and a half is given to the _Abacus_, and four and a half from the Abacus to the middle of the _Eye_, which is traversed by the line G H; the Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, mark the four Centers of the first four quarters of the Volute; the four second quarters, and the four third (for the Volutte has twelve) are taken in the Diagonal 1, 3, and 2, 4. H, I, is the Astragal at the top of the Pillar which answers the _Eye_ of the Volute. K K is the Egg or _Echinus_; L is the Axis of the Volutes; M M is the ceinture of the lateral part of the Volutes. This relates to _pag._ 103.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Plate VIII._]

THE EXPLICATION Of the NINTH TABLE.

This contains the Proportions of the _Corinthian_ Capital, which makes all the distinction betwixt _Jonick_ and the _Corinthian Order_, all other Members, according to _Vitruvius_, being the same. A is the _Corinthian_ Capital, which has for its height only the Diameter of the bottom of the Column; B is the Capital of the Pantheon, which is higher by a seventh part, _viz._ the thickness of the Abacus; C D is the height of the Capital divided into seven, of which the Abacus has one, the Voluta's and Foliages and Stalks two, the Foliage in the Range above two, and that in the Range below two. To have the breadth of the Abacus, we must give to its Diagonal E F the double of its height C D. To have the greatness and just Proportion of its bending H, we must divide the breadth of the Abacus E G into nine parts, and give it one.

At the bottom of this Table is represented the Herb _Branbursine_, which grows round about the Basket, which is covered with a Tile, from which _Vitruvius_ says the Sculptor _Callimachus_ took the first Model of the _Corinthian_ Capital.

This Table relates to _p._ 108.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Plate IX._]

THE EXPLICATION OF THE TENTH TABLE.

This contains the Plan and Elevation of the Theatre of the _Romans_. AA is the Portico which went round the Theatre below. BB are the Entries through which they parted from the Portico's into the _Orchestra_ C.

KDEDK the Pulpitum or Stage; MM the landing-place which separated the Degrees above from those below: LM the Stairs which are between the degrees. NN the Portico above in the Theatre. PP the Pa.s.sage under the degrees. TT the Stairs by which they mount to the Portico's above. KIHIK the Scene. H the royal Gate. II the Gates of Strangers. KK the Gates in returning. OOO the Machines used in changing the Scenes. GG the part of the Theatre behind.

This Table relates to _p._ 125.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Plate X._]

THE EXPLICATION Of the ELEVENTH TABLE.

This contains the Explication of the Catapulta, which was a Machine of War used by the Ancients to dart Javelins of an extraordinary bigness. A are the two Beams one against the other, and joyn'd, which after having been drawn, pushed the Javelin with great force when they were unbent.

There is one of these Beams, which is represented as being joyned to the Capital of the Machine by an Iron Pin, the other ready to be joyned when the Master of the Machine sounds the Cord with his right Hand, shall have it heightned or let down, the end marked C, as much as is necessary, to give it an equal Bent to the other. This is done by the help of an excentrical piece, which is traversed by a Cylinder, which the Master turns with a Laver, which he holds in his left Hand. D, E E is the Capital of the Catapulta. EE are the holes through which the Rope pa.s.seth to draw the Beams. F is the end of one of the Beams represented in great. G is one of the Pins which travers'd a round Eye, by the help of which the Beam is joyned to the Capital. H is the Cylinder which traverses the excentrical piece I. This Plate relates to _pag._ 155.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Plate XI.]

_Explication of the Hardest Terms in_ Architecture.

A

_Abacus_, from [Greek: abax]; which signifies a square Trencher: In French it's called _Talloir_; it's that quadrangular Piece commonly accompanied with a _Cymatium_, and serves instead of a _Drip_ or _Corona_ to the Capital. It supports the nether _Face_ of the _Architrave_ and whole _Trabeation_. In the _Corinthian_ and the _Compound_ Orders, its Corners are called the _Horns_, the intermediate _Sweep_ and _Curvature_; the Arch, which has commonly a _Rose_ carved in the middle.

_Acroteria_ or _Acroter's_ from [Greek: akron], _Summa pars_; they may be properly called _Pinnacles_, for _Pins_ and _Battlements_ were made sometimes more towring; but when they stood in _Ranges_ with _Rails_ and _Balisters_: Upon flat Building they still retained their Name, with this only difference, that such as were placed between the _Angular_ Points, were stiled the _Median_, or middle _Acroteria_.

_Annulets_, are little square Parts turned round in the _Corinthian Capital_, under the _Quarter-Round_, called _Echinus_.

_Ante_, is a square Pillaster, which the Ancients placed at the corners of the Walls of the Temples.

_Amphiprostyle_ from [Greek: amphi], _Circa_, and [Greek: stylos]; _Columna_ was a sort of a Temple which had four Columns in the Front of the Temple, and four in the Face behind.

_Architrave_, from a Mungril Compound of two Languages, [Greek: arche] _Princ.i.p.alis_, and _Trabs_; it's the first Member of that which we call _Entablature_; in Chimnies the _Architrave_ is the _mantle_; over the _Jambs_ of the Doors and Lintels of Windows, it's called the _Hyperthron_, from the Greek [Greek: hyper], _super_ and [Greek: thyra], _Janua_ or _Ostium_.

_Astragal_, from the Greek word [Greek: astragalos] which signifies the _Vertebrae_, or little Joints in the Neck or Heel; hence the French call it _Talon_, or the Heel itself: It's a Member of _Architecture_ joyned to _Bases_, _Cornices_, _Architraves_, _&c._ it's round like a Ring, and therefore it's called by the Italians _Tondino_.

_Attiq;_ signifies after the manner of the City of _Athens_.

In _Vitruvius_ it's the Name of the _Basis_ which the Moderns have given to the _Dorick_ Pillar. We call _Attiq;_ in our Buildings, a little Order placed upon another much greater; for instead of Pillars, this little Order has commonly nothing but Pillasters of a particular Fashion and Order, which we call _Attiq;_

_Apophyges_, vide _Conge_.

B

_Basilica_, from the Greek word [Greek: Basileus] _Rex_ or King among the Ancients. It was a great Hall which had two Ranges of Pillars, and had two Isles or Wings, upon which were Galleries: These Halls, which at first were made for the Palaces of Kings, were afterwards turned into Courts of Justice, and after that into Churches; which Form has always been observed.

_Ball.u.s.tre_ is the lateral part of the _Jonick_ Capital. Our Workmen have given it that name, because it somewhat resembles a _Ball.u.s.ter_.

C

_Chanel_, in the _Ionick_ Capital, is that part which is under the _Abacus_, and lies upon _Echinus_ or Egg, and which has its _Contours_ or Turnings on every side to make the Voluta's.

_Cariatides_ are Statues of Women, which serve instead of Pillars.

_Cincture_ is that part which makes the middle of the _Ball.u.s.tre_ of the _Ionick Voluta_.

_Conge_ in French, in Latin _Apophyges_, from the Greek word [Greek: apophyge] because that part of the Pillar taking as it were a rise, seems to emerge and fly from the _Basis_ like the _Proceltus_ of a Bone in a mans Leg, In short, it's no more than the _Rings_ or _Ferils_ heretofore used at the Extremities of wooden Pillars, to preserve them from splitting, afterwards imitated in Stone-work.

_Corona_ is properly that part of the Cornice which the French call _Larmer_ or _Drip_, because it defends the rest of the Work from Wind and Weather: It is often taken by _Vitruvius_ for all the Cornice.

_Corona_, called the _Plat_ or _flat Crown_, is a particular Member in the _Dorick_ Gate; it's made by so extraordinary enlargement of the _Face_ of the _Corona_ or _Drip_, that it has six times more Breadth than Projecture. This sort of _Corona_ is no where found among the Ancients, but only in the Writings of _Vitruvius_.

_Cymatium_, from [Greek: kymaton], which signifies a rouling _Wave_; is a Member of Architecture, of which the one half is _Convex_ and the other _Concave_, the one being hollow above, and the other below. There are two sorts of them, the one called the _Gola_ or _Throats_, or the _Doucine_, whose advanced part is _Concave_; and the other is called by the French the _Talon_ or Heel, whose advanced part is hollow below, as the first is above.

D