shaft is six diameters.
of ancient Doric columns, the following proportions
have been established. The shaft, six diameters; the
capital, half a diameter; the abacus, quarter of a diame-
ter. The shaft diminishes in thickness as it ascends;
where it joins the capital, it is nearly a quarter less in
diameter than at the bottom, where it rests upon the
platform. The abacus is considered the upper member
of the capital: it is here a flat square plinth; beneath
it, is the large, finely formed ovolo; below this are three
annulets or rings, which complete the Doric capital.
The entablature is heavy. The architrave is orna-
mented with conical drops

From a careful comparison

or gutta, as they are called. The frieze is sculptured with triglyphs, an ornament peculiar to this order. The square places between these triglyphs are called metopes, and are often ornamented

with sculpture.

The cornice, has a large projecting moulding, under which are placed square

Capital

FIG. 12.

blocks, named mutules, ornamented with drops; these mutules are placed directly over the triglyphs and metopes.

The finest specimen of the Doric order is the temple of Minerva Parthenon, at Athens. (Plate VI.) Peri

Triglyphs:

architrave

abacus

ovelo annulite

Schaft

cles resolved that Athens should be the admiration of the world, and that her architecture should keep pace with her military and intellectual renown. When the temple of Minerva Parthenon was to be built, many grand designs were offered to the Athenians for their choice. Ictinus was the successful architect, whose design met with their approbation. Callicrates was also employed upon it. A small temple, raised by Cimon, in honour of Theseus, was the model of the Parthenon. It has been remarked that "the Doric column is in fact Egyptian, modified to a new position and worship, and that the nobler specimens are but reduced and petty imitations of those ancient and indestructible supporters to the temples of Thebes, of Memphis, and Tentyra.”

The sculptures which decorated this temple, were designed by Phidias, and executed by his scholars. Ictinus, the architect, wrote a work on the architecture of the Parthenon, which is quoted by Vitruvius. The Grecian temples are all oblong, and about twice as long as they are broad. The Parthenon was 225 feet in length, and 100 in breadth; the height of the entrance was thirty-six feet.

There were eight columns at each front, and seventeen on each side, counting those at the angle twice. Besides these, there was an inner row of columns at each end, which stood upon a platform two steps higher than the outer row. The diameter of the columns of the outer row, is six feet, two inches; their height, in

cluding the capitals, thirty-four feet. The Parthenon has an inclined roof, the ends of which are finished with a cornice, similar to the one upon the entablature. The triangular space formed by this cornice and the entablature is called a pediment. On the eastern pediment of the Parthenon was an elaborate sculpture, representing Jupiter and Minerva, with their attendants; on the western pediment, Minerva and Neptune. These sculptures, and others from the entablature, were a part of the spoils now so famous as the Elgin marbles, of the British Museum. Byron's indignation was excited against Lord Elgin for these spoliations, and he has administered in several stanzas his caustic reproof.

But who of all the plunderers of yon fane

On high, where Pallas lingered, loth to flee

The latest relic of her ancient reign;

The last, the worst dull spoiler, who was he?
Blush, Caledonia! such thy son could be!
England! I joy no child he was of thine :
Thy free-born men should spare what once was free ;
Yet they could violate each saddening shrine,
And bear these altars o'er the long reluctant brine.

But most the modern Pict's ignoble boast

To rive what Goth, and Turk, and time hath spared.

Cold as the crags upon his native coast,

His mind as barren and his heart as hard;

So he whose head conceived, whose hand prepared

Aught to displace Athena's poor remains,

Her sons too weak the sacred shrine to guard."*

Part of the beautiful Parthenon was destroyed by the explosion of a magazine which the Turks had placed within its walls, when Athens, in 1687, was besieged by the Venetians. Enough of it remained when Stuart visited Athens, about 1765, to enable him to give a perfect representation of it, and Plate VI. is from his view, as restored to its pristine glory. When the columns or other parts fell, the Turks sometimes used them for their buildings, but it is said, that they rarely destroyed or defaced these beautiful ruins. The Parthenon stood upon the grand platform or area of the Acropolis. On this elevation were accumulated those edifices whose surpassing beauty will long remain the world's wonder. In sight of these splendid structures, perhaps with his eyes fixed upon the sculptured Parthenon, St. Paul stood upon "Mars' Hill," the hill of Areopagus, and exclaimed, "Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.' Whom, therefore, ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God, that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of

Lord Elgin has given his apology for these spoliations in a small work, entitled "Memorandum on the Subject of the Earl of Elgin's Pursuits in Greece," London, 1811.