Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-12-13
[nRroarrD ron THE AArRlcAs ORGAN. j

ARCHITECTURE--GREoIAN.

| Architecture signifies the art of building, and
may be divided into three general heads military,
relating to the structure of forts and other build
ings of offensive and defensive warfare naval re-
lating to shipbuilding; and civil architecture, re-
lating to the building Of houses for dwellings, for
legislation, education, commerce, &c. To the last
the Professor proposed combining his remarks
Sacred history contains the earliest record Of
architecture, namely, the ark, which indicated adj
yancement in that science on the part OF the ante
deluvians. The same should also be inferred from
| the attempt made at an early period succeeding
the deluge, TO erect the Tower Of Babel.
The oldest architectural remains are those of
Egypt and Persia The pyramids were cited as
the most extraordinary aud stupendons works, and
description Of them given. The Egyptian style
is apparent In the ruins of temples and palaces
found in Latopolis, Dendery, Appolennopolis, and
Thebes, and are characterized by their thick
pyramidal walls, and the short thick columns
crowded together to support the thick fas root Of
solid stone. An example of this style was shown
from large drawings, and after detail Of some Of
the principal ruins, showing the Egyptian style, he
passed to the Grecian style.
Among the Greeks, architecture underwent many
changes, and rose to the rank of one of the fine
arts 1t fourished most between the years 700
and 400 b. O., and terminated with the term Of
Pericles. The Grecian temples are acknewledg-
cd to be the most perfect modela Of symmetry and
gracefulness that the world ever produced.
Here the three different orders of Grecian archi-
lecture were explained by reference to models.
The distance from the ground to the summit Of 2
building is divided into three parts. The syobats,
or the visible foundation on which the structure
rests; the columns, or the upright supporters; and
the entablatys, or that portion that lies upon the
columns. The pediment is the triangular space in
Guided between the entablature and the edges
Of the roof This is seen only at the end, and
does not encircIe the building like the other parts.
The recediDg portion is called the ty,npatst1n.
Each Of these principal divisions contain three
subdivisions as follows: the styobatc contains the
pliatle the die, and the cor,.ics; the columns con-
sist Of base shaft, and capital and the entabla-
ture OF the arcitraue or chief beam that rests on
the capitals, the riezs, or receding part and the
corNce. r#g.tIg
The three Grecian orders are the Doric, Ionic
and Corinthian. The Doric is the most ancient,
and is characterized by majestic simplicity. Some
of the earlier specimens are not far removed from
the Egyptian in massiveness and grandeur. The
Doric order was explained thus: The stylobate is
fight of steps, the column has no base, the shaft
of the column is futed with twenty very shallow
grooves, meeting in edge, the capital or crown
ing part Of the column is very simple, consisting
OF two or three rings, broad convex moulding
and a square abacus. The heighth Of the column is
about six times its width or as it is termed about
architecture is perfectly plain. The frieze is in
terrupted by oblong projections, called triglyphs
cut by vertical spaces between them, called me-
TOPICS, which are square, and generally occupied
by sculptered figures. Beneath each triglyph
hangs row Of drops. The cornice consists Of few
large mouldings, and series Of sloping projec-
tions, (mutules,) which have drops suspended from
item. The whole entablature is of heavy APP
pearance, corresponding with the great strength of
the columns. M ~ g tH alss4
The temples of Theseus, and another Athenian
temple, the Parthenon, somewhat larger than the
former, were cited as examples of the Doric ORDER
and were illustrated by drawings. The sculptured
works that enrich many parts of these temples,
representing battles figures of gods, &C., were ex-
ecuted by Pludas, the most distinguished artist
that Greece ever produced, or Immediately under
his supervision.
In Doric edifce may be distinctly traced the
elements of simple wooden building. The taper
ing columns resemble the trunk of tree; the flu
tings of the shaft, the channels Of the bark the
abacus, fiat block or stone, to steady the entab-
lature the architraye, beam extending over the
series Of columns and the trglyphs, ends of trans
verse beams. 1t
The Ionic order is more delicate and graceful
than the Doric, and admits of moderate degree
of ornament. The column is about eight dame
tiers high, has base and twenty-four fittings,
semi-circle in depth, and not meeting at an edge,
Dut stPhfhteu Dy n uArrOW Danu, OtnerWlse, the
edges being very sharp and thin, would be easily
broken. The greater number and depth of the
fittings render the Ionic shaft more ornamental
than the Doric. The most striking feature Of this
order is the capital which consists of two spiral
volutes having carved moulding beneath, and
moulded abacus above. The frieze ia plain, and is
separated from the architrave by carved mould
ing The cornice has usually series of deep
and narrow projections called dentels. The whole
entablature Is lighter than the Doric answering to
the weaker columns. There are very few speci-
mems of this order remaining to modern times.
The most tasteful are found in Athens.
The Corinthian order is still lighter than the
Ionic, and allows considerable ornament. The col
umn Is about ten diameters high. The capital Is
lofty and rich, spreading from bottom to top, and
decorated with the leaves and stalks Of the scan-
thus. The abacus is concave on each side, with
flower in the centre, and truncated at the
The architrave is divided into two or three faces.
Tho cornice has series of large projections, en-
rched with leaves called Biodiitions. Some mould
ings of the entablature are carved for ornament.
Cornth does not retain vestige Of this beautiful
order to which she gave the name, and very few
relics exist anywhere in Greece The great Tenn
| pleof Jupiter Olympus was Corinthian, with ten
columns in the facade. In 1853, seventeen col
| umns were standing, over sixty feet high and six
| In diameter U.
vitruvius, celebrated Latin writer, in speaking
| OF architecture, gives somewhat faDciful &C
| connt Of the origin Of the several orders The
Doric order, he says is masculine, and derives its
proportions from those Of man, exhibiting firm
ness and strength, and disregard Of ornament !;
whereas the Ionic Is feminine, having delicate pro-
portions; and the Cornthau, he considered, re
dnement upon the Ionic. The poet Thompson,
while he states the historic succession Of the Gre
clan orders, also sudes to the ideas Of yitruvius
in the following lines
| - First unadorned rfst5
And noby plain, the manly Doric rose;
i The Ionic then with dacent n,atrnn orace