Chap. XXXI.
PRINCIPLES OF PROPORTION.
1585
The Parthenon or Temple of Minerva at Athens is admitted to have the most beautifulproportions of all octastyle Greek examples ; its entire width, measured in the front of thecolumns at the base, is 100 feet 9 inches, and its height to the centre of the tympanum, fromthe level of the platform on which the columns are placed, 51 feet 2£ inches, 20 inches onlybeyond what it should be to accord with the rules laid down. Dividing this height intothree parts, we have in round numbers 17 feet 1 inch for each : the height of theentablature and half pediment is 17 feet, and that of the columns 34 feet 2 inches, preciselyone-third of the height being devoted to the entablature, the lower two-thirds being dividedbetween these and their intercolumniations; adding all the diameters together, we have49 feet 6 inches ; the intercolumniations being 51 feet 3 inches, or only 1 foot 9. inches inexcess for the latter: hence if a parallelogram or double square be divided into 40^ squares,and 13£ be given to tl e columns, the same quantities to the intercolumniations, the en-tablature and its pediment, we should have the general proportions of the Parthenon , thedifference before alluded to being too slight to produce any effect on the eye in so large a mass.The height to the centre of the pediment is 51 feet 2 ; ] inches, consequently the width to makeit an exact double square should have been 102 feet 5 inches, instead of 100 feet 9 inches;and this difference may have been occasioned by the difficulty of setting out the triglyphs,or from the idea that the width, as measured along the corona, should have some con-sideration, and a mean be established.
As we have before observed that the Parthenon is considered perfect both in its designand execution, a more detailed account of its construction and mouldings will be the bestillustration that can be offered on the subject of Greek masonry, premising that in the pre-sent instance it is all of the finest marble from Pentelicus.
The Doric Column varies considerably in its proportions, some not being more than fourdiameters in height, whilst in other examples they are from that to six and a half: thosewe are now considering are formed of twelve blocks; on the upper and lower bed of eachare described two circles, the circumference of the outer being 9 inches from the edo*e,whilst the inner circle is only 20 inches in diameter. The space between these is notpolished, but left rough as from the chisel, and a little sunk for the purpose of retaining
Tig. 2972.
Fig. 2973.
a fine morthr or cement. In the centre of each block is a square hole, measuring 5j incheson each side, sunk 3 inches in depth; in these were inserted pieces of hard wood, 6 inchesin length, to steady the blocks, and keep them from being displaced, particularly at thetime the flutes were worked, or the exterior was undergoing the process of polishing.The outer columns are 6 feet 3-^ inches in diameter at bottom, and the others 6 feetl-j 8 0 inch, the upper diameter of the latter being 4 feet 9-f inches: their total height is 34feet 2 t 8 0 inches, or nearly five diameters and a half; the diminution is not regular, therebein<y at a certain height a swelling or entasis, which improves the outline, and destroysthat meagreness which is the result of a straight line. The angular column is a little morein diameter, that it may not appear less than the others, which are not so surroundedby air.
The shafts have generally twenty flutes, uniting in an arris, and not with a square filletbetween them, as in the other orders; they are elliptical in some examples, as at Paestum ,where their number is 15 and 24; the heads are variously finished. Ihc capital of thisorder varies in its height from J to § of the lower diameter of the columns, and the