An Abridgment of the Architecture of Vitruvius Part 16

_Parascenium_, from [Greek: para] and [Greek: skene]

_tentonum_, is the back part of the Theatre or Scene.

_Periptere_, from [Greek: peri] _circ.u.m_, and [Greek: pteron] _ala_, which has a Wing round about. This was a sort of a Temple, which had Pillars on all the four Parts, which was different from the _Prostyle_, which had only Pillars before, or In the _Front_, and from the _Amphiprostyle_, which had only Pillars before and behind, and none on the sides.

_Peristyle_, from [Greek: peri] _circ.u.m_, and [Greek: stylos] _columna_; signifies that which has Pillars round about: It differs from the _Periptere_ in this, that the Pillars of the _Peristyle_ are within, as it were round about a Court, and those of the _Periptere_ are without, as in the Temples of the Ancients.

_Pedestal_, is that part which supports the Pillar.

_Pied-droit_ is a square Pillar, which is in part within the Wall.

_Pillaster_ is the same, with this Difference; that the Pillaster has a _Base_ and a _Capital_, as a _Pillar_ hath, which the _Pied-droit_ has not.

_Platt-band_ is a square Member, which terminates the _Architrave_ of the _Dorick Order_, and pa.s.ses immediately under the Triglyphs.

_Plinthus_ signifies a Brick or square Tile. It's in Architecture taken for that square Member which makes the Foundation of the Base of the Pillar.

_Postic.u.m_ is the back Gate of a Fabrick.

_Portico_ is a long place covered with a Floor or Flatfond, supported by Pillars.

_Proscenium_, from [Greek: pro] and [Greek: skenine]

_tentorium_; it signifies the forepart of the Scene; it was an Edifice as high as the last Portico of the Theatre, whose Face or Front was adorned with many Ranges of Pillars.

_Prostyle_ from [Greek: pro] and [Greek: stylos], signifies that which has Pillars before only. This was one sort of the Temples of the Ancients.

_Pseudodiptere_, [Greek: pseudes] _mendax_, [Greek: dis]

_bis_, and [Greek: pteron] _ala_; signifies a _false Diptere_. This was a kind of a Temple among the Ancients, which had _Porticoes_ round about, which were every one as large as the double _Portico_ of the _Diptere_.

_Pseudoperiptere_, from [Greek: pseudes] _mendax_, and [Greek: peri], and [Greek: pteron] _ala_, was a sort of a Temple, where the Side-Pillars were part in the Wall of the inner side of the Temple, which was enlarged sufficiently to enclose within the s.p.a.ce which was allowed the Porticoes of the Periptere.

_Pulpit_ was the place upon which the Comedians acted, which we now call the Stage.

_Picnostyle_, from [Greek: pyknos] _dentus_, and [Greek: stylos] _columna_; signifies a Building where the Pillars were very close one to another; so that the _Intercolumniation_ had but a _Diameter_ and a half of the Pillar.

R

_Rudus_ was a sort of gross Mortar, which was made use of for smoothing, and equally filling and levelling the Superfices of the Walls, before the fine Plaister was laid on: It was likewise made use of for the second _Bed_ or _Lay_ of the Flooring.

S

_Scene_ signifies a Tabernacle, Tent, or Pavillion, from the Greek [Greek: skene]. It was in the Theatre of the Ancients a great _Face_ or Front of Building, adjoyned with Pillars and Statues, which had three great Openings, in which were Pictures in Perspective, which represented the Lodgings where the Tragedians and Comedians dwelt.

_Sabliere_ is a piece of Wood as long as a Beam, but not so thick.

_Scotia_, from [Greek: skotos] _tenebrae_, _Darkness_, is a Member of Architecture, hollowed as a Demi-channel: It's particularly affected in the Bases where it's placed, between the Torus and the Astragals; it's sometimes put under the _Drip_, in the Cornice of the _Dorick_ Order.

_Statumen_ signifies generally whatsoever is made use of to support any thing in Architecture; it is Mortar mixt with Pibbles, which served for the first Lay or Bed in Flooring.

_Systyle_, from [Greek: syn] _con_, and [Greek: stylos]

_columna_; signifies building where the Pillars seem to be joyned together, for the _Intercolumniation_ is but of two Diameters of the Pillars.

T

_Torus_ is a Member in the Base which is round, in the form of a great Ring; it comes from the Latin word _Torus_, which signifies a Bed.

_Tringle_ is a little square Member, which is directly upon every _Triglyph_, under the Platt-band of the _Architrave_, from whence hang down the _Guttae_, or pendant Drops in the _Dorick Order_.

_Triglyph_, from [Greek: tris] _ter_, and [Greek: glyphos]

_sculptura_; because it's divided into three parts, and engraved, it is a Member in the Freeze of the Dorick Order, directly upon every Pillar, and in certain s.p.a.ces in the _Intercolumniations_.

_Tympan_ signifies a Drum; it's that part of the bottom of the Frontons which answers the naked of the Freeze; it is triangular, and placed upon the Cornice of the Entablature, and covered over again with two other Cornices which slope a little.

V

_Volute_ signifies wreathed, and turned about from _Volvendo_; it's a part of the Capitals of the _Ionick_, _Corinthian_, and _Compound Orders_, which represents the bark of a Tree twisted and turned into a Spiral line.

X

_Xyste_, from the Greek [Greek: zytos], which signifies sc.r.a.ped; it was the place where the Wrestlers exercised; it was so called because they made their skins be sc.r.a.ped and rubbed smooth, to make the Sweat fall, and to make their Bodies more slippery, that their Adversaries might have the less hold of them when they closed.

To the Reader.

_Abridgments of_ Vitruvius _have been formerly printed, but none of them have followed the design which_ Philebert de l'Orme _has given in his Third Book: He desires that in abridging_ Vitruvius _the matters which this Author treats of confusedly should be put into order, and that the things belonging to the same Subject, which are found dispersed in divers places, should be collected together into one Chapter. This Method, which the most part of the eminent Writers have neglected, has been carefully observed in this Treatise, it serving very much to the better apprehending and retaining the things treated of. We have been exact to put in nothing that is not taken out of_ Vitruvius, _to which end the_ Book _and_ Chapter _of his Works_ are _all along quoted in the Margin; nothing being added, but some few lines here and there, to continue the Discourse, and render it more clear: Notwithstanding which precautions, some things may possibly still remain obscure, in which case the Reader must have Recourse to the whole Works of_ Vitruvius, _where he will find all necessary Explanation._

_This little Treatise is not only necessary for those who begin the study of Architecture, but will be also of great use to even Masters themselves; for it is not to be doubted, that_ Vitruvius _being so great a Master in this Art, his Authority, together with that of all the Ancients, which is included in his Works, must be capable of instructing the_ Apprentices, _and confirming the Masters, and thereby establish the good Maxims and certain Rules of Architecture._