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In the following pages some of the more remarkable buildings of Ancient Greece and Italy-the triumphs of the early architects-are briefly but concisely described. Such technicalities as would be unintelligible to youthful readers, without considerable explanation, have been carefully avoided; and the author has attempted to render his descriptions interesting by copious allusions to the historical and poetical associations, which, no less than their architectural beauty, endear temple, forum, amphitheatre, and pillar to the antiquary and the scholar. Of necessity many famous edifices are passed by unnoticed, which have as great a claim on our admiration as those illustrated in this little volume; but the author hopes that at least enough is accomplished to afford the reader a distinct idea of the general character and surpassing merit of the Wonders of the Ancient World.

W. H. D. A.

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ANCIENT

TRIUMPHS

OF

ARCHITECTURE..

A

Introduction.

S in the following volume we propose to describe some of the wonders of the architecture of the Ancient World, it seems desirable, at the outset, to indicate the leading characteristics of their respective styles.

Greek architecture recognizes three Orders, with their several distinctive features: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. These are known by the style and proportions of their columns.

According to Vitruvius, the first example of the Doric Order was the Temple of Apollo Panionios, erected by a colony of Greeks, whom Ion, the son of Xanthus, had led into Asia Minor. These persons, being ignorant of the correct proportions which a column should have to support

a roof, conceived the idea of making them correspond to the dimensions of a man's figure, the height of which is about six times its breadth. Consequently, they made the diameter of a column, at its foot, equal to one-sixth of its whole length; and the system, 'or order, distinguished by these proportions, they are said to have called the Doric, because first used in the cities of the Dorians, who then inhabited all Greece north of the Gulf of Corinth.

The Ionic Order is said to have been introduced or adopted by Ion himself, and its dimensions copied from the figure of a matron, which is more slender than that of a man. He gave to the diameter of his column, at the base, one-eighth of its whole length, and thus secured for it a general air of grace and elegance. Vitruvius points out an intentional or accidental resemblance of the decorative parts of the Ionic column, to different portions of the female dress. The mouldings of the base represent a woman's shoe; the volutes of the capital her "hyacinthine curls," flowing off either side of the graceful head; while the channels of the shafts correspond to the folds of her garments.

The third, or Corinthian Order, was invented by Callimachus, who lived about the close of the Peloponnesian war. This order was afterwards

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