Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume I.djvu/696

This page needs to be proofread.

660 ARCHITECTURE height, may be divided into three nearly equal parts. The uppermost, given to the abacus, of less projection than in the Grecian examples, is crowned by a cyma reversa and fillet ; the ovolo supporting the abacus is a semi-torus resting on three fillets, and occupies the mid- dle division ; while the lower third is taken up by a necking which is separated from the shaft by a small torus and fillet. The shaft, less conoidal than in the Grecian examples, is with- out flutes, the superior diameter being about four fifths of the diameter at the base. The total height of the entablature is about one quarter of that of the column ; its projection is about equal to its height. The architrave is one half of a diameter in height; the frieze 1 diameter. The principal difference in the distribution of the Grecian and Roman Doric frieze is in the position of the triglyph over the column at the angle. The Romans preserved the same intercoluiuniation throughout, and placed the triglyph directly over the column, thus forming half metopes at the angles. In the cornice the bed mouldings occupy more height than in the Grecian types, and are composed generally of a cyma reversa, dentil, and ovolo, separated by fillets. The corona is of less im- portance, it being sacrificed to the cymatium, which in return is of more value than in the Grecian Doric. The soffit generally bears mutules, though sometimes these latter mem- bers are dispensed with. The only examples of the Ionic order in ancient Rome are to be found in the temples of Saturn and Fortuna Virilis, in the baths of Diocletian, in the Colosseum, and in the upper order of the theatre of Marcellus. The total height of the columns varies between eight and nine diam- eters. The base, about one half of a diameter in height, is composed of a torus resting on a plinth, a scotia, and a second torus ; the three upper members have fillets intervening. The shaft, slightly increased in diameter at one third of its height, is either plain or fluted ; in the latter case the flutes, separated by fillets, are semicircular, and are 20 in number. The diminution of the shaft varies between one eighth and one tenth of a diameter. The capitals, occupying about one half of a diameter, vary; those of the theatre of Marcellus and of the temple of Fortuna Virilis are without a necking. The volutes, connected by horizontal instead of curved lines, are bolstered, and the abacus crowning the volutes iscomposed of a cyma reversa and a fillet. In the Ionic capitals of San Lorenzo at Rome (generally thought formerly to have belonged to the tr-mple of Jupitei; and Juno), there exists a necking. The temple of Saturn presents still a third species, the volutes being doubled and inclined at an angle of 45. The height and projection of the entablature are nearly equal, varying between one quarter and one fifth of the height of the column. The architrave and frieze are equal in height, and are a little less than that occu- pied by the cornice. The frieze is either with or without sculpture. The bed mouldings of the cornice generally consist of a cyma reversa, a dentil course, and ovolo, separated by fillets, together occupying rather less than one half of the entire height of the cornice ; the corona and crown mouldings, with the cymatium, complete this order. The whole of the Roman possessions were covered with massive struc- tures which embodied the Roman spirit of de- fiance and the supremacy of the conqueror. We find everywhere in her own limits and in her possessions roads, aqueducts, bridges, ports, forums, basilicas, temples, mausoleums, palaces, baths, theatres, amphitheatres, hippo- dromes, naumachias, triumphal arches, cloacas, Arch of Titus at Beneventura. prisons, fountains, cisterns, monumental col- umns, villas, grottoes, and markets. During the empire, Rome was adorned with its beauti- ful Pantheon, Asia was endowed with many beautiful structures, and Athens itself became embellished with the famous temple of Jupiter Bulns of the Temple of Jupiter Olympius at Athens.