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THE
RUINS
the Sybarites , that rich, expensive, and voluptuous People; especially, is we concludethese Edifices to have been Temples, as the Abbe Mazochi (i), and the MarquisBerardo Galiani observe (2). It is well known that the Greeks were vastly magnificentand expenfive in their Temples ; but supposing these to have been only Porticos orColonades, it is well known that the like Profusion was also bestowed upon them.They are now called, by the Italians , Li Seggi di Pesto.
As there are no Traces left whereby we may form a certain Judgmertt to whatDeities these Temples were dedicated, for the fake of Distinction we shall thereforeterm them according to the Nature of their Construction ; as for Example; the Temple,
Letter A, in the general View, Plate T, we shall call the Hexastyle Ipetral Temple:
the second, B, the Hexastyle Peripteral Temple: and the third, C, the PseudodipteralTemple, or Basilica, it still remaining a Doubt to what Purpose this Bis siding wasapplied.
The three Temples are of the Doric Order, built of a hard coarse Stone, takenfrom the Quarries in the Mountain above Cappacio Vechio (3). Their Pillars are fluted,very shallow, to a sharp Edge, in the Manner described by Vitruvius, who* says, that
the Greeks adorned the Doric Column with a particular kind of lhallov’y Flutings,
whose Curvatures are described from the Center os a geometrical Square; no Intervalor Fillet being lest between them. The Number of Flutings to these Columns aretwenty (4). Most of the ancient Columns were formed in this Manner, and weregenerally employed by the Greeks, in Works of the most remote Antiquity. TheColumns diminish from the Foot of the Shaft, and this is esteemed the most naturaland graceful (5). This Method was almost universally followed by the Ancients, in allthe Orders (6). These Columns are without Bases, or any Plinth to raise them abovethe Ground; in Imitation os the Trees used in the first Buildings (7).
They
(1) In his Commentaries on the Heraclean Tables.
(2) In his Edition of Vitruvius, P. 103 and 113.
( 3 ) Formerly this Mountain was called Callamarcus, orCalmatius ; and is distinguished for a memorable Battle, in the Yearof Rome 676, where Crassus defeated the Army of Sparticusthe Gladiator, near this Place.
Crassus fugitivorum hello apud Calamarcum educturus militemadverfus Castum & Canimocum, duces Gallorum , XII cohortescum C. Promtino, & cum Qy. Marcio Ruffo legatispost montem circummissit, quæ, quum commisso jam prælio, atergo clamors fublato, decurriffent, ita fuderunt hostes, ut ubiquefugam pro pugna capefferent.
Front INI Stratag. L. II. C. 4.
(4) Columnas (Doricas) autem striari XX striis oportet, quæsi planæ erunt, angulos habeant viginti designates: sin autemexcavabantur, si c est forma facienda : ita uti quam magnum estintervallum striæ, tarn magnis striaturæ parlbus lateribus quadratumdefcribatur . in medio autem quadrate circini centrum collocetur,& agatur linea rotundationis, quæ quadrationis angulos tangat,
quantum ent curvaturæ inter rotundationem & quadratum
defcriptionem, tantum ad formam excaventur; Ita Dorica columnsfui generis striaturæ habebit perfectionem.
Lib. IV. C. 3.
Scamozzi blames this Manner for its want of Solidity; theprojecting Angles between the Flutings being easily broke, andvery subject to moulder. ,
(5) Chambers’s Civil Architecture, P.
(6) The Columns of the Pantheon, those of the Temples ofVejia, of Jupiter Stator, of Antoninus and Faustina ; of Concord ; ofTitus’s Arch, of Septimius’s Portico, of Marcellus’sTheatre in Rome, all diminish in the same Xlanner.
(7) Ita unaquæque res & Locum, & Genus, & Ordinem proprium
tuetur.-E quibus rebus, & a materiatura fobri, in lapideis &
marmoreis ædium facrarum ædificationibus artifices dispositions eorumfcalptuns font imitati, & eas inventions persequendas putaverunt;ideo quod antiqui fabri quodam in loco ædificantes, cum ; ta a i>interioribus parietibus ad extremas paries tigna prominentiahabuiffent collocate, intertignia struxerunt, supraque coronas &fastigia venustiore specie fabrilibus operibus ornaverunt.
Vitruv. Lib. IV. C. 2.
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