The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1922-07-27

unfortunately, not single example re-
mains.
When these temples were taken pos
session Of by the Christians. 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 to accommo-
date the apses.
Attributed 20 Theodosius.
The construction Of this basilica Is
attributed 10 TheOdosius. Roman EN-
peror Of the East who reigned towards
the end IF the Fourth century of our
era. The Great temple was demolished
10 furnish materials for the construc-
ton ~ this church.
The Great Temple Itself has been al
most entirely destroyed All that Is
left are six columns of the peristyle,
sim 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 70 DO when seen from
below They are over 90 feet high and
~ feet in diameter and are each COM
posed OF three drums.
One can perhaps best mentally re-
construct the Great Temple by an in
spection OF the smaller one. dedicated
60 Bacchus. which lies TO the south
east Of the Great Temple. entirely in
dependent Of II and on a lower level.
The walls Of the main enclosure or
celia. which Is oblOng. are quite plain
on the outside and are built OF care
fally dressed stone. the Joints so per-
feet that a knife-blade cannot enter
between. Around this at distance Of
10 feet runs on the two sides and ends
row Of smooth columns which forms
the peristyie.
These, including their capitals. are
about 30 feet high and are surmounted
by a magnificent entablature. This en-
tablature is connected with the walls OF
the celia by enormous slabs Of stone,
which are deliberately carved with the
heads OF enperors. deities. and inter
woven with floral designs. forming an
exquisite ceiling.
The door posts are elegantly carved
with figures OF Bacchus, fauns. cupids
satyrs and bacchantes, woven around
which are grape vines and clusters Of
fruit. also peoples and ears Of wheat.
all OF which are symbolical Of the
attributes Of the revellng god to whom
the temple Is dedicated
Great Doorway - Feet High.
This great doorway. which dwarfs
the human figure, stands 4S feet high |
and 21iS feet wide. while the carving |
OF the posts just mentioned covers |
space about 8 feet wide. On both |
sides OF this door stand graceful futed |
columns. forming the prostyle or por-
tico. while the plain ones of the perl |
style, which stand behind them, seem
to reflect their beauty.
The decorations OF the walls OF the
OF this temple resemble the
carvings of the exedrae OF the great
court, having two rows OF inches for
rided perpendicularly from each other
by engaged fiuted columns.
As already mentioned. these tenn
pies stood on a raised platform rest
ng on substructures. The great tenn
pie lies 441a feet above the level OF
he plain and is the highest part OF
he entire Enclosure. while the great
,ourt was only % feet lower.
An inclosing wall. the mammoth
stones of which have been the marvel
II engineers for ages. deserves mention
The lowest courses are built of stones
II moderate dimensions, but which
row rapidly In size until we come to
! row of three enormous stones. the
ihortest being SO feet and the longest
s In length. and each being about
3 feet high and 10 feet thick.
rhe course of which they form part
> some 20 feet above the surface Of the
round.
They are the largest building blocks
yer known to have been used by man;
nd a still larger one lies in the an
tent nearby quarry. never having been
detached from the rock beneath This
ne Ia 20 feet long by II By 18 fest