Page:A history of architecture on the comparative method for the student, craftsman, and amateur.djvu/109

 GREEK ARCHITECTURE. 5I The general architectural character of the early works of the Hellenic period is heavy and severe, the influence of the Mycenaean period being apparent ; but a gradual change towards refinement and beauty took place, and in the later periods the proportions of the columns were more slender, and the mouldings more refined. Unity of effect in the larger temples was obtained by the colon- nade surrounding the shrine-cell, forming a contrast with the number of courts, halls, and chambers, decreasing in size from the entrance pylons, comprised in a typical Egyptian temple. Greek buildings have the qualities of harmony, simplicity and unity, because of the excellence of their proportions, their truthful and apparent construction, and the employment of one constructive principle. Many refinements in design were practised in the best period of Greek art, in order to correct optical illusions, as has been discovered by the late Mr. Penrose in many temples, and especially in the Parthenon. The long lines of the architrave, stylobate, pediments and other features, which, if built straight in reality, would appear to sag or drop in the middle of their length, were formed with slight convex lines. For instance, in the Parthenon the stylobate has an upward curvature towards its centre of 2-61 inches on the east and west fronts, and of 4-39 inches on the flanks. The vertical features were made to incline inwards in order to correct the tendency which such features have of appearing to fall outwards at the top. Thus, in the Parthenon the axes of the outer columns lean inwards 2-65 inches, and would meet if produced at a distance of a mile above ground. The faces of the architrave (No. 71, c) were also given an inward inclination. The shafts usually have an entasis which, in the case of the Parthenon column, amounts to about three-quarters of an inch in a height of 34 feet, and is shown on No. 71 d. The close spacing of the angle columns has been already referred to, and these were increased in thickness as it was found that seen against the sky owing to irradiation (No. 71, b) they would appear thinner than those seen against the darker background formed by the cella wall. According to Pennethorne a further correction is pointed out in an inscription from the Temple of Priene (No. 71, a), where according to Vitruvius, Bk. vi., chap. 2, the letters at the top of the inscription were increased in size, and the letters at the lower part decreased so that they might all appear of one size when seen from the point of sight. Sculpture and carving of the highest class completed the effec- tiveness of their most important buildings, and these were in- fluenced very largely by the hard, fine-grained marble employed, which rendered possible the delicate adjustment and refined treatment characteristic of this period. E 2