Page:1902 Encyclopædia Britannica - Volume 25 - A-AUS.pdf/662

A R C H I T E C T U R E restoration of it. It was of the Doric order, but the Vestals, excavated in 1883-84, which has proved to be the most important example of domestic architecture yet columns were not fluted. In 1879-86 the German Government carried out excava- found, surpassing in completeness any of the Pompeian tions at Pergamon in Asia Minor, under the direction of houses in consequence of its having a great portion of the Herr Humann. Although of comparatively late date, for upper storey preserved. According to Dr Middleton, the the principal monuments of the acropolis were only com- house was evidently rebuilt by Hadrian on a much enmenced by Eumenes II., 191-159 B.c., the sculpture of the larged scale. It consisted of a large open peristyle great altar of Zeus, now in the Berlin Museum and repre- measuring 200 feet by 72 feet in two storeys, with rooms senting the battle of the Gods and the Giants, is of in the rear, and at one end the tablinum covered over with exceptional vigour and magnificence, and the splendour of a semicircular barrel vault. The whole house was richly the series of temples raised on successive terraces seems ornamented, the floors and walls being covered with well to have merited the praise of Pliny, who calls it Oriental marbles, of which numerous remains were found. “ the most celebrated town in Asia.” The principal monu- The upper part of the walls was decorated with mosaic of ment, of which the remains were found, was that of the coloured glass tesserae. Staircases were found leading to the great altar of Zeus, which was raised on a platform 93 x 90 upper storey, in which the bedrooms and bathrooms were feet, and 20 feet high, round which at a height of 8 feet placed ; the walls were lined with marble slabs in the lower from the level of the terrace was carried the great frieze of part, and above were painted in brilliant colours with the “gigantomachia,” 7 feet high. A wide flight of steps panels, wreaths, and garlands. One of the most valuable discoveries made in Rome of led up to the altar, which was surrounded by an Ionic peristyle open on the front and three sides; on the walls late years is that relating to the date of the Pantheon, of the court enclosing the altar was a smaller frieze. On which has always been a much-contested point among a terrace beyond were the remains of the Doric temple of archaiologists. In consequence of serious cracks in the Athene Polias, with a portions round two sides of the dome which had allowed the rain-water to penetrate court, and beyond, the famous Library and the Temple of though the vault, Mr Chedanne, Grand Prix of the Ptome and Augustus. In the side of the hill was the French Academy at Rome, was allowed to make use of the Theatre, with the great Terrace, terminated at the north end scaffolding which had been erected in 1892 and examine the structure of the vault. On taking out some of the by a beautiful Ionic temple. bricks he found them stamped with dates of the time of Roman. Hadrian. This led to a further examination of bricks in The immense difference between the levels of ancient and other parts of the building, on which in every case Hadrian modern Rome, in some cases amounting to from 65 to 70 stamps were found, the dates extending from a.d. 115-125. feet, and the extensive area of the archaeological stratum This decided the question at once that the circular portion (at least 9 square miles), give some idea of the immense of the Pantheon was built by Hadrian. Further researches labour and cost of investigations in Rome. Since 1871, showed that 6 feet below the existing pavement was according to Professor Lanciani, an area of about 4 square another pavement of marble which sloped from the centre miles has been turned up, with results of the greatest to the circumference, belonging, therefore, to a circular interest and value. Foremost amongst these must be area exposed to rain; and outside the walls of the existing placed the excavations on the Palatine, which have revealed building, concentric with them, and on the same level as the plans of the greater portions of the palaces built by this pavement, was a circular wall of masonry of early succeeding emperors. The platform of the hill was selected date surrounding this open area. A similar pavement was by Augustus first for his imperial residence. Tiberius, found under the Portico and, at a lower level 3 feet under Caligula, and Hero added considerably to it. The Flavian this, was found another pavement, and a substructure in emperors united the various portions built by raising travertine masonry, larger and of different design. The structures between those already erected, and rebuilt the results of these discoveries are considered to prove that House of Augustus, which had been destroyed by fire ; and —(1) the original Temple of Agrippa was rectangular; Septimius Severus added largely at the south-east angle (2) the Portico of Agrippa faced the south instead of the of the hill. The excavations were begun by Napoleon north (which is the aspect of Hadrian’s Portico); (3) the III. in 1860, and since 1871 have been carried out by the original Portico was decastyle, viz., with ten columns in Italian Government. The palace begun by Vespasian front; (4) the rectangular temple on plan resembled the and completed by Domitian, being destined for state temple of Concord, the front being on the longer side; (5) receptions and banquets, was in some respects the most not only were the columns of Agrippa’s portico used again magnificent. The throne room was 160 feet long and 120 by Hadrian, but also portions of the entablature and pedifeet wide, with a vault the clear span of which exceeded 100 ment; and (6) in front of Agrippa’s temple was an immense feet. Twelve immense columns of pavonazzetto marble circular area surrounded by a wall. This latter suggests and giallo antico assisted in carrying the vault, and flanked that Hadrian or his architect, having this site to build the great doorways and niches; the latter, with smaller on, conceived the notion of covering the whole area and columns of porphyry on the east side, held colossal statues making the building circular. Of the later discoveries at Pompeii, those made in 1894or groups, many of which now enrich various museums. Next in interest come the excavations made on the line 95, when the House of the Yettii was excavated, are by of the Via Sacra, which since 1882 has been laid bare far the most important. The house is comparatively small from the Forum to the Colosseum. Many of the buildings in size, but in the preservation of its peristyle and its on either side have always been known ; but the removal of richly-decorated walls it forms the most important reprethe superincumbent earth has not only exposed the bases sentative of its class. It differs in plan from other of the same, but brought to light the complete plans, and examples in having no tablinum; the atrium opened in some cases the architectural remains of other structures, directly on to the peristyle. The large room on the north such as the Basilica Julia, the Rostra on the Forum, the side of the peristyle, richly decorated with cupids and Temple of Vesta, the house of the Vestal virgins, the Psyches, may possibly have served as the drawing- or Porticus Margaritaria, and the temple of Venus and Rome sitting-room of the house. with its surrounding Porticus, &c. Of these the most Origin of the Pointed Arch. —The various theories put forward as interesting was the “Atrium Vesta?.,” the house of the to the origin of pointed-arch architecture and its introduction into 608