CHAP. II.

OF THE FIVE SPECIES OF TEMPLES.

There are five species of temples, namely, the pycnostyle,in which the columns are placed far apart; the systyle, inwhich they are more remote; the diastyle, whose columnsare at an ample distance from each other; the araeostyle, inwhich the intervals between the columns are too great; andthe eustyle, whose intercolumniations are justly proportioned.

In the pycnostyle species, the interval between thecolumns is equal to one diameter and an half; there is aninstance of this in the temple of Julius, and another in thetemple of Venus, which is erected in the forum of Caesar.In all temples of this species the same interval between thecolumns is observed. In the systyle species there should bean interval between the columns equal to two diameters; thisarrangement would leave the space between the plinths of thebases of the columns equal to the extent of the plinthsthemselves. There are examples of this in the temple ofFortuna Equestris, near the stone theatre; and in someother temples, in the construction of which the sameprinciple has been followed. Neither of these species, oughtto be generally adopted; for the matrons who go to theirsupplications, mutually supporting each other, cannot pass