CAP

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CAP

The capitals used in the architecture of the Greeks,though with numberless minute variations of ornaments andproportions, arrange themselves into three general classes,and offer the most obvious distinctions between the orders.

In all the orders, the capital is divided from the shaft bysome small member, as an astragal and fillet, or by one orthree channels, which are always accounted a part of theshaft; so much of the column, therefore, as appears abovethis member, belongs to the capital.

The Doric capital consists of a neck, which is a continua-tion of the shaft, with its fluting, several fillets, varying fromthree to five in number, a bold projecting ovolo, and a massyabacus, of a square form, which covers the whole.

The Ionic capital consists of an ovolo above the astragalof the shaft; a band, or festoon, upon the ovolo, on the frontand rear of the capital, with volutes on the right and left,suspended from the ends of each band, or festoon; and,lastly, a thin moulded abacus crowns the whole.

The Corinthian capital, which is more richly ornamented,consists of a vase, two rows of leaves attached to the vase,volutes, caulicoli, which spring between each two of theupper row of leaves, and, lastly, an abacus, which is not onlymoulded on all the four edges, but formed into a concavityfrom the two extremities of each of the said edges.

From this description of Grecian capitals, it will be seenthat though the parts are generally so very unlike as to beincapable of comparison, yet they in variety maintain ageneral resemblance.

The variations to be found in different ancient examplesof the same order, will be described under their respectiveheads.

With regard to the Tuscan capital, there are no authenti-cated remains of the order of which it is a part; and theprecepts of Vitruvius on this head are so obscure, thatmodern compilers of systems of architecture have, of course,varied exceedingly in their designs; so that the order whichpasses under this name, must be regarded rather as a modernthan an ancient invention. It is made to differ from themodern Doric by an air of poverty and rudeness, and by thesuppression of the triglyphs, mutules, and other members.

The Composite appears never to have been admitted as aseparate order by the ancients.

From the remains of Egyptian antiquities, we find thattheir architects had no certain rules; and it is rather singu-lar, that though the buildings themselves were constructedwith the greatest simplicity, their capitals are of infinitevariety ; many of them possessing richness of decoration,although devoid of the simple elegance which is the charac-teristic of the Grecian orders. The ornaments are, in general,accurate imitations of the natural productions of the country,such as the lotus, the reed, or the palm.

The temples of the ancient inhabitants of Hindostan,works of dateless antiquity, present many capitals of extra-ordinary form and composition. In some, we find represented the figures of elephants and horses, apparentlycrouching under the weight of the ceiling. Capitals, vefysimilar in idea, are also found in the ruins of Persepolis,composed of horses and camels.

As Roman art degenerated with the decline of the empire,the capitals from the ancient edifices were used indiscrimi-nately in the new structures; and this led, in later times, tothe employment of a variety of capitals in the same edifice.The first alteration we find in the form of this member of thecolumn, is in the erections of that style of architecture knownas Byzantine, in which the capitals are in the shape ot atruncated pyramid of four sides, placed in an inverted posi-tion, having the apex downwards; the surface is ornamented

with foliations in low relief, or with a sort of basket-work,which is a distinguishing feature of the style to which itbelongs. A nearer approach to their original is shown at alater period, in the style whose introduction is attributed tothe Lombards ; in this, which is merely a modification of thedebased Roman, some of the capitals bear a great resemblanceto the Corinthian , although far inferior to their original insimplicity and elegance; there are, however, other examplesof a far different description, both in form and ornamenta-tion ; some ornamented with designs in low relief, othersagain of a grotesque character. If we include the Normanin this style, to which it certainly bears a close affinity, weshall have a great variety of forms, to be noted indeed ratherfor their variety and massive appearance, than for beauty ofoutline or decoration.

But of all capitals, those found in buildings in the modescommonly comprised under the term Gothic, hold a loftypre-eminence both for variety and tastefulness. What canbe more chaste and elegant than the ornamentation of theearly English ? or what more graceful and natural thanthe foliage of the decorated capital ? As to variety, it was thegoverning principle of decoration, there seldom being foundmany repetitions of one form in the same building. Naturewas their model, by her alone were their designs limited, solong at least as their skill was sufficient to imitate herproductions.

Capital, Angular. See Angular Capital.

Capital op a Baluster , one similar to those of theTuscan or Doric orders.

Capital of a Lantern, the covering by which it isterminated, either in a bell-shape, the form of a cupola, thatof a spire, or in any regular figure whatever.

Capital op a Triglyph, the projecting band whichsurmounts the plain vertical area, or face, and which is dis-posed in a plane parallel to the said face. The capital of thetriglyph of the Grecian Doric projects but a very smalldistance, and is not returned on the flanks, except at th®angular triglyphs, and this only upon each face of the build-ing ; but in the Roman Doric, the capital of the triglyphprojects more than that of the Grecian, and is returnedwith the same projection on the flanks as in the face.

CAPITOL, a celebrated rock, or hill, at Rome , whereonstood many ancient edifices, with the house of Romulus, &c.

Among the many celebrated edifices that formerly occupiedthis hill, the principal was the Asylum, erected by Romulusin order to people his new city. The house of Romulu 3was composed of canes, rushes, &c.; and every year thepriests superstitiously repaired it with similar material 3.Here was the Tabularium , or Archive, where were depositedthe laws and consulta of the senate, and every other publ' cact, written on tables of bronze. Vespasian repaired theCapitol, and had three thousand new tables made, the form ® 1having been defaced when the library and other building 3were destroyed by lightning. It is supposed to have stoo^Jwhere the arches and Doric columns are now seen, behinthe Senators’ Palace, towards the Campo Vaccino. H erewas the Curia Calabra. Here also stood the house of Manim*’the defender of the rock, destroyed on account of the treache 1- ;of its master. The temple of Juno Moneta was built on 1 ^site. The number of temples on this hill was very considerable: some make them amount to sixty. But the g re ^quantity of statues in marble, metal, silver, and gold, erec te ^to heroes who had deserved well of the republic, causiOogreat confusion, Augustus removed great part of themthe Campus Martius. _ 9

All these noble edifices, once the ornament of the mist rof the world, have fallen a victim to the ravages of

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