Page:A history of architecture on the comparative method for the student, craftsman, and amateur.djvu/113

 GREEK ARCHITECTURE. 55 115 feet long, a large vaulted chamber, about 50 feet broad by 50 feet high, and a small square tomb-chamber adjoining. A similar tomb at Orchomenos in Boeotia has a magnificently ornamented ceiling in its sepulchral chamber, while another at Menidi in Attica has no less than five superposed lintels to support the mass of earth above it {c.f. section of Great Pyramid, No. 5 d). These tombs belong to the second stage in the evolution of the dwelling-house, the complete series being [a) natural cave (No. 2 h) ; {h) artificial cave below ground ; [c) artificial cave above ground, i.e., hut (No. 2 e). The famous Gate of Lions on the Acropolis at Mycenae also belongs to this period (No. 15 e). The Hellenic Period contains all the principal temples and monuments which were erected between the years B.C. 700 and the Roman occupation B.C. 146. The masterpieces of Greek architecture, however, were all erected in the short space of about 150 years, viz., between the defeat of the Persians, B.C. 480, and the death of Alexander, B.C. 323. Many of the Greek cities were upon or in the immediate vicinity of a hill which was known as the Acropolis (Greek = an upper city), and formed a citadel upon which the principal temples or treasure-houses were erected for safety. A model of the Acropolis at Athens in the British Museum will give a good general idea of the disposition of the important buildings placed thereon, as also the plan No. 17. Other great centres of archi- tectural activity were Olympia, Delphi, Paestum in South Italy, Sicily, and Asia Minor. NROCh .;vL — turned,,, — V