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CHAPTER III.

OF FOUNDATIONS; AND OF COLUMNS AND THEIRORNAMENTS.

If solid ground can be come to, the foundations shouldgo down to it and into it, according to the magnitudeof the work, and the substruction should be built up assolid as possible. Above the ground of the foundation,the wall should be one-half thicker than the columns it isto receive, so that the lower parts which carry the greatestweight, may be stronger than the upper part, which is call-ed the stereobata: nor must the mouldings of the bases ofthe columns project beyond the solid. Thus, also, shouldbe regulated the thickness of all walls above ground. Theintervals between the foundations brought up underthe columns, should be either rammed down hard, orarched, so as to prevent the foundation piers from swerv-ing. If solid ground cannot be come to, and the groundbe loose or marshy, the place must be excavated, cleared,and either alder, olive, or oak piles, previously charred,must be driven with a machine, as close to each other aspossible, and the intervals, between the piles, filled withashes. The heaviest foundations may be laid on such abase. When they are brought up level, the stylobatae(plinths) are placed thereon, according to the arrange-ment used, and above described for the pycnostylos, sys-tylos, diastylos or eustylos, as the case may be. In thearaeostylos it is only necessary to preserve, in a peripteralbuilding, twice the number of intercolumniations on theflanks that there are in front, so that the length may be