Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1922-04-26

unfortunately. not a single example re-
mains
When these temples were taken pos
session OF by the Christians. a church
was erected over this altar. part OF
which was destroyed and then the
space leyeled up with the earth so that
the church floor was above the top Of
the altar: so. also. the lower part OF
the staircase was filed over. while the
upper part was removed 90 aecOmmo-
date the apses.
Attributed to Theodcsius.
The construction Of this basillca Is
attributed 20 The0dOsius. Roman en-
peror OF the East. who reigned towards
the end OF the Fourth century OF our
era. The Great temple was demolished
10 furnish materials for the construc-
ton OF this church.
The Great Temple itself has been al
most entirely destroyed. All that Is
left are six columns 81 the peristyle.
still standing in their original places.
capped with Corlnthian capitals and
Joined by ornate and massive entabla-
ture. These lofty pillars do not taper
as they appear 10 do when seen from
below. They are over co feet high and
~ feet in diameter and are each COM
posed 81 three drums.
one can perhaps best mentally re-
construct the Great Temple by IN in
spection OF the smaller one. dedicated
o. Racchus. which lies 20 the south
east Of the Great Temple, entirely In
dependent 81 II and on n lower level.
The walls 81 the main enclosure or
celia. which Is oblong. are quite plain
on the outside and are built Of care
fully dressed stone. the joints so per
feet that a knife-blade cannot enter
between. Around this at a distance OF
IL feet runs on the two sides and ends
n row OF smooth columns which forms
the perlsiyle.
These. including their capitals. are
about 70 feet high and are surmounted
By n magnificent entahlature. This en-
tablature Is connected with the walls OF
the celia by enormous slabs OF stone
which are deliberately carved with the
heads OF empernrs. deities. and inter
woven with floral designs, forming an
exquisite ceiling.
The door posts are elegantly carved
with figures Of Bacchus. fauns, cupids,
satvrs and bacchantes, woven around
which are grape vines and clusters OF
fruit. also peoples and ears OF wheat
an Of which are symboiical OF the
attributes Of the revellng god 10 whom
the temple is dedicated.
Great Doorway - Feet High.
This great doorway. which dwarfs
the human figure. stands 4S feet hlgh
and 2lis feet wide. while the carving
OF the posts Just mentioned covers
Snace about feet wide. ON both
sIdes OF this door stand graceful huted
columns. forming the prostyle or Ror-
tlco. while the plain ones OF the peri
style. which stand behind them seem
TO reflect their beauty.
The decorations OF tbs walls or the
interior OF this temple resemble the
carvings OF the exedrae OF the great
court having two rows Of inches Tor
statues one above the other ana Oh
xtded perpendicularly from each other
BY engaged uuteu t~t1~
As already mentioned. these TEN
Mes stood on a raised platform rest
inc on substructures. The great tenn
ME lies 44ik feet above the level OF
the plaln and is the highest part OF
the entire Enclosure. while the great
court was only 3 feet lower.
An lnclosing wall. the mammoth
stones OF which have been the marNei
az engineers for ages. deserves nentlon'
The lowest courses are built OF stones
az moderate dimensions. but when
grow rapidly in size until we come 20
: row OF three enormous stones me
shortest being 63 feet and the longest
* In length. and each being about
Il feet high and 10 feet thick.
The course ~ which they form part
Is some % feet above the surface OF the
ground. -
They are the largest building blocks
ever known 20 have been used by man;
and a sim larger one lies In the an
rgent nearby quarry. never having been
detached from the rock beneath. This
- 4. N faef long By Ia BY - feet