CAR

108

CAS

With respect to the epithet, Caryatis, we are inclined tothink rather that the goddess obtained this surname frombeing worshipped especially at Carya, near Sparta, where shehad a temple, and where also the Lacedaemonian virgins cele-brated an annual festival in honour of her; but as regardsthe main point in question, we think there can be little doubtbut that, as is evidenced by an old commentator on Statius ,the term Caryatides was applied to the virgins employedin the service of Diana, and that female figures were firstemployed in the architecture of the Greek temples as repre-sentations of the virgins engaged about the service of thedeity to whom the temples were dedicated.

That the figures of men and animals were used for thepurpose of supports in the place of columns, long before theywere so employed by the Greeks, is well known. Thatthey were not uncommon in Egypt, we learn from DiodorusSiculus , who informs us, that the roof of the hall in thesepulchre of King Osymandyas, was supported by animalsinstead of pillars, each composed of a single stone, andtwenty-four feet in height. Psammeticus also employedcolossal statues twelve cubits in height in the propylaeumwhich he erected on the east side of the temple at Memphis .

In Denon’s Travels in Egypt , we find, among other frag-ments, representations of five insulated pilasters or pillars,bearing an entablature; the fronts of which are decoratedwith priests or divinities.

We find several instances of a similar application of menand animals, in one case of elephants, in the temples ofIndia, as in the temple of Elephanta, that near Vellore ,and several others.

The molten sea, spoken of in Holy Writ, was supportedby twelve bulls ; and in the Odyssey of Homer, book vii .verse 118, we find the effigies of animals, both rational and1 irrational, employed as decorations. We do not learn, how-ever, that these latter representations were employed ascolumns to support an entablature; and there is reason tobelieve that they were nothing more than ornamental sculp-tures. In Stewart’s Antiquities of Athens , we find a mostbeautiful specimen of Caryatic figures supporting an entabla-ture, consisting of an architrave cornice of a very elegantprofile.

The examples to be found amongst the Greeks are thosein the temple of Pandrosus , and five specimens out of sixpreviously existing, supporting an entablature adjacent tothe temple of Erectheus. In this case there is no frieze,but the entablature is carried to an extraordinary height.

Various fragments of male figures are also met with amongthe Roman antiquities, which, from their attitudes and orna-ments, appear to have supported the entablatures of buildings.

Besides Caryatides and Persians , it is sometimes customaryto support the entablatures with figures, of which the upperpart represents the head and breast of the human body, andthe lower part an inverted frustum of a square pyramid, withthe feet sometimes projecting out below, as if the body hadbeen partly cased : figures of this form are called Termini;and had their origin in stones used by the ancients for mark-ing out the limits of property belonging to individuals. NumaPompilius , in order to render these boundaries sacred, con-verted the Terminus into a deity, and built a temple, dedicatedto him, on the Tarpeian Mount, wherein he was representedby a stone, which in the course of time was sculptured intothe form of a human head and shoulders, with the lowerparts as we have just described. On particular occasions,this idol was adorned with garlands.

Persian figures are generally charged with a Doric enta-blature ; the Caryatides, with an Ionic or Corinthian archi-trave cornice; and the Termini, with an entablature of any

of the three ■ Grecian orders, according as they were them'selves decorated.

Male figures may be introduced with propriety, in arsenals*or galleries of armour, in guard-rooms, and other plan® 3devoted to military affairs ; they may either represent <F®figures of captives, or of martial virtues; such as StrengthValour, Wisdom, Prudence, Fortitude , &c.

As these figures should be of a striking character, theymay be of any colossal size that will agree with the arch*'tecture of other parts of the building. ,

In composing Caryatides, the most graceful attitudes anpleasant features should be chosen ; and, to prevent a»appearance of stiffness, the drapery and features should vvaried in the different figures of the range at the sam®time, a general uniformity of shape should be preservethroughout. They should always be of a moderate size, ° rthey will appear monstrous, and destroy those sensation®’which representations of the fair sex ought to inspire. .

Le Clerc says they may be advantageously employed t0sustaining the canopy of a throne ; in which case, f * 1 1should be represented under the figures and symbols of b er °^virtues. In banqueting-rooms, ball-rooms, or other ap a *ments of recreation, they must bear such characteristicsare calculated to inspire mirth, and promote festivity.

As Termini are susceptible of a variety of decoratm jthey may be employed as embellishments for gardens ^fields; where they may represent Jupiter, the protector ^boundaries; or some of the rural deities, as Pan , F^ 01 ’Pomona, Vertumnus, Ceres, Priapus, Faunus , Sylva n ’Nymphs, and Satyrs . They are also much employedchimney-pieces and other interior compositions. . „

CASE (from the French , caisse), an outside coveri’Venvelope, box, or sheath; applied generally to such covei' 11 ’ 0 ^as completely surround the object enclosed. In buildi°»’ ■means the shell or carcase of a house. ge „

Case-Bays, in naked flooring, the joists framed bet"'a pair of girders. Flooring-joists framed with one of 1ends let into a girder, and their other ends inserted &wall, are called tail-bays. The case-bays of floors and i°should not exceed ten feet. ,

Case of a Dook, a wooden frame, in which the do 01 ^jhung ; door-cases are either constructed of architraveslinings, or wrought framed, rebated, and beaded; in the acase they are called door-frames. . j c Ji

Case of a Stair, a name given to a wall by tv

a staircase is surrounded.

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CASED, a term in masonry, indicating that the ° u t( ,rof a building is covered or faced with materials of || 3 ,quality than those of the backing or inside of theThus brick walls are frequently cased with stone* oithe best kind of bricks. See Wall . v to

Cased Sash-Frames, have their vertical sides h°bo'( lE .conceal the weights for hanging the sashes. See SasH-vCASEMATE, a cove, or hollow cylindrical naou^ 0 fthe section of which is from one-sixth to one-fourth P‘a circle. , . - n rreS,

CASEMENTS, sashes or glass frames, opening onand revolving upon one of their vertical edges.a casement fills the whole aperture, it is called a sin 9\ ca se‘ment; and when two are used, they are called douoments, folding casements, or French sashes. _ gn o"'’Casements are more liable to admit rain, wind, °. r j a riyin stormy weather, than vertical sliding sashes, pa' 1at the bottom, when they open from the inside. ., 0 f aCASING of Timber-Work, is when the outsi ^jcl’timber building is plastered all over with mortar; att®it is made to resemble stonework, bv striking it, tv

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