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support of mutuli or cornices, but on what account isnot found in history. The Greeks, however, call themarXavTts (atlantes). Atlas, according to history, is repre-sented in the act of sustaining the universe, because heis said to have been the first person who explained tomankind the sun’s course, that of the moon, the risingand setting of the stars, and the celestial motions, by thepower of his mind and the acuteness of his understanding.Hence it is, that, by painters and sculptors, he is, for hisexertions, represented as bearing the world: and hisdaughters, the Atlantides, whom we call Vergilise, andthe Greeks, IIAetaSes, were honoured by being placedamong the constellations. I mention these things not toinduce persons to change the names at this period, butthat they may be known to philologists. I have explainedthe different arrangement of buildings after the practiceof the Italians, as well as that of the Greeks, by givingthe proportions and divisions of each; and, as we havealready laid down the principles of beauty and propriety,we shall now consider the subject of strength, by whicha building may be without defects, and durable.

CHAPTEE XI.

OF THE STRENGTH OF BUILDINGS.

In those buildings which are raised from the level of theground, if the foundations are laid according to the rulesgiven in the preceding books for the construction of wallsand theatres, they will be very durable ; but if under-ground apartments (hypogea) and vaults are to be built,their foundations must be thicker than the walls of theupper part of the edifice, which, as well as the pilastersand columns, must stand vertically over the middle of